History
Our roots:
From Beguine to Cellites
The roots of our Congregation lie in the Beguine movement during the High Middle Ages. Numerous Beguine communities were founded in Cologne during the 13th and 14th century, with members devoting themselves to community nursing. During the 15th century, these originally lay communities developed into an increasing number of cloistered communities, whose members lived according to the Rule of St. Augustine and who called themselves Cellitinnen.
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The Beginning: 1838 - 1869
The root of our congregation was formed by four sisters who had been sent from two Cologne Cellitinnen convents to nurse in a public hospital. To begin with the sisters were subjected to various difficulties by the administration responsible for the poor, and they lived and worked in a legally undefined status. It was not until 1840 that they acquired more independency both from the city administration and from the church, so that the existing community of sisters turned into an independent congregation.
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Growth of the Community: 1870 - 1964
Until 1964, our congregation only existed in Germany. Up to 1,300 sisters lived and worked in more than 40 convents and institutions in Cologne, the Rhineland and Belgium. The sisters were mainly nursing the sick of the City of Cologne, having been appointed to most of their hospitals. Besides working in the hospitals, they took up numerous responsibilities in the social field. They worked in 'kindergartens', founded Homes for the aged, managed home science schools and took care of young girls in welfare homes. The Superior General and her council were responsible for everything related to administration and management.
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New Tasks: 1964 - 1994
Inspired by the 2nd Vatican Council, the Cellitinnen took over a missionary task in India in 1964. Young girls came from there to Germany to be trained in religious life. Most of the sisters were sent for professional training as well and then returned to their native India where convents and institutions were founded. In India the sisters are running hospitals and village dispensaries, as well as working in a leprosy colony and in schools. Initially, the structure of the congregation did not change. A Superior General was in charge of both countries.
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Period of Change: from 1994
Since 1994 new statutes have allowed provinces to be established and the Indian Province and the German Province were founded. Both the provinces are under the General Administration but also have their own provincial administration. As there is an enormous decrease in the numbers of sisters in Germany, it has been necessary to close convents. In order to continue our apostolate the institutions were handed over to the newly founded 'Stiftung der Cellitinnen e.V.' in 2001.
Time Line
1838
Foundation of the Bürger Hospital. On 19th November, the Feast of St. Elisabeth, the Mother Superiors of the Cellinnen convent in Antonsgasse and Kupfergasse, Cologne, received a letter from the church authority asking them to send nurses to the Cologne Bürger Hospital. As a result, 4 sisters started working in the Cologne Bürger Hospital for the poor.
1864
St. Josefs Convent in Zündorf, renamed in 1974 to St. Martin Home for the Elderly
1869
Purchase of the house Severinstrasse 53 and foundation of mother house in Cologne.
1874
St. Augustine Hospital, known as Severinsklösterchen, Cologne
1882
St. Josef-Convent St. Vith, Belgium1882-1968
Many new social activities like nursing and welfare homes etc. are taken over in more than 40 houses in Cologne and the surrounding areas. There are as many as 1,300 sisters in the congregation.
1882–1968
Numerous new nursing and welfare task were taken on in more than 40 houses in Cologne and the area. There are as many as 1,200 sisters in the order.
1883
Convent Maria Hilf Bornheim, since 1988 Home for the Aged 'Maria Hilf'.
1888
Psychiatric Clinic, Marienborn, Convent Hoven
1891
Diocesan Seminary, Colgone
1894
Herz-Jesu Convent Königsdorf, since 1982 St. Augustine Home for the Aged
1905
St. Agatha Hospital Cologne-Niehl
1909
St. Antonius Hospital Cologne-Bayenthal
1917
Herz-Jesu Convent Nettersheim, since 1978 Haus Tannenblick
1918
Convent Heisterbach, Königswinter
1964
Spreading to India
1967
St. Augustine Hospital, Kumily / Kerala
1972
Nirmala Boarding, Sendhwa / M.P.
1977
St. Augustine Nivas, Bangalore/Karnataka
Elisabeth Sadan, Sendhwa / M.P.
1979
St. Josepf Convent,
Anavilasam, Kerala
Pushpa Nivas, Pendarnia / M.P.
1980
Karuna Hospital, Sendhwa / M.P.
1981
India becomes a region
1982
Augustine Bhavan, Amaravathi / A.P.
1983
St. Augustine Convent, Adackathode / Kerala
1988
150th anniversary,
Our Motto: "Just Be There"
1989
Augustine Sadan, Pedapadu / A.P.
1992
Keerthi Nilaya, Pansemal / M.P.
Mahila Vidyashram Vihar, Khandwa / M.P.
St. Augustine Convent, Punasa / M.P.
1993
Mahila Vidyashram Vihar, Khandwa / M.P.
St. Augustine Convent, Punasa / M.P.
1993-2001
Missionary activities in the Philippines
1994
Foundation of the German and Indian provinces
1997
St. Augustine Convent, Gurubasha / Assam
Haus Monika, Germany
1999
St. Augustine Hospital, Chapaguri / Assam
St. Augustine Convent, Kuttimoola / Kerala
2000
Handing over the administration to the 'Stiftung der Cellitinnen e.V.'
2002
The General administration is shifted to the convent in Heisterbach
Administration of home science schools and social welfare homes.
1909 Antonius Hospital Köln-Bayenthal
1888 Private Psychiatric Clinic for incurably mentally-ill catholic women, Zülpich-Hoven
Nursing-Aid School (ANM) Karuna Hospital, Indien