“We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the
Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church,
especially in ministry to the family.”
Covenant of Love, Charism Statement
Our Charism
A charism is a particular aspect of the life of Jesus. Each religious congregation lives according to a unique charism.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth has its source in the mystery of the Incarnation, of God coming to dwell in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Our Foundress,
Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, recognised the
Holy Family of Nazareth as the Incarnation of Love, the reflection of the life the Holy Trinity, and the embodiment of hiddenness, joy and simplicity.
What is a congregation's spirituality?
The spirituality of a Congregation flows from their charism. For us as Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our spirituality is a special way of living out the mystery of Nazareth, the life of the Holy Family, and following the example left for us by our Mother Foundress, Blessed Frances Siedliska.
Our spirituality is deepened through meditating on our charism, on the Word of God, on the teachings of the Church, and on our Constitutions, and through maintaining healthy traditions in the face of the challenges of the modern world.
What is a Nazareth spirituality?
Like our charism, our spirituality is rooted in the mystery of the Incarnation, which is the expression of the immeasurable love of God for us.
We believe that God, in becoming a human being, wanted to enter into the most simple, ordinary experience of human life.
Our Foundress, pondering this mystery, wanted our attitude of love and charity to be the centre of our response to God’s love for us.
Characteristics
Profound union with God
Obedience to the Will of God – Fiat Voluntas Tua
Fidelity to the Holy Spirit
Hiddenness Ordinariness and simplicity – reverencing the SACRED in every moment
Love for each other and a family spirit
Love for the Eucharist
Particular bond with the Church and the Holy Father – Sentire cum Ecclesia
Paschal feature.
Our Mission
Our present Constitutions, referring to the spirit of the Foundress and the contemporary teaching of the Church, define the mission of the Congregation:
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“We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, an international apostolic Congregation, believe that the Holy Family of Nazareth: three persons in communion with God and one another, obedient and faithful to the will of God,
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Reveals to us the profound reality that God is present in the most simple and ordinary experiences of human life.
This vision, which so captivated our Foundress, Frances Siedliska (Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd), is the source and inspiration for our life and service. Sharing in Jesus’ mission of spreading the Kingdom of God’s Love, we engage in a variety of ministries with and in the Church.Mindful that it Is in an environment of love that persons come to the fullness of life, we witness a family spirit among ourselves, and are dedicated to the moral and religious renewal of family life. We are committed to creating communities of love and hope which celebrate the oneness of the human family.”
How do we live out our mission?
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Our Foundress understood family as the basic unit of society as well as of the entire human family. Following her example, we respond to the needs of the Church and families wherever the Congregation sends us. We are convinced that any work done by us, even the most simple, is a priceless contribution to spreading the Kingdom of God’s love and of ministering to families.
Our Patrons
As Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, we model our life on the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
We draw inspiration from the life and spirituality of our Foundress, Blessed Frances Siedliska.
We remember and are guided by the example of our Sisters who have gone before us, especially our Blessed Martyred Sisters of Nowogrodek and our Sister Malgorzata Banas, Servant of God.