WHO ARE THE MISSION SISTERS OF AJMER?
Jesus told His disciples,
“Go to the ends of the world and proclaim the Good News to all” Mt.28).
The Mission Sisters of Ajmer in as Indian Congregation of Religious Sisters who responded to Jesus’ call by working to uplift women and girl-children, and by rendering service to the poor as also our less fortunate sisters and brothers in urban and rural areas.
Almost a century ago in Ajmer, a group of young ladies had made up their minds to dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ and to the service of humanity. They approached Fr Fortunatus Henri Caumont a French priest working in India, who later became the first Bishop of Ajmer to form a Religious Society to help them carry out this mission. And thus the Congregation of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer was founded on April 26, 1911, with its headquarters at Ajmer.
We are Franciscans, namely, followers of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis, a 12th century Italian saint of heroic principles and convictions, is known for his extraordinary humility, poverty and charity and his love for nature and animals.
Our aim is to participate whole-heartedly in what our Lord Jesus Christ requires us to do, through a life of prayer, living a common life and service to humanity. In our fast-changing world, with new challenges emerging day by day, it is hard to give, without counting the cost, such noble self-sacrificing service as Jesus did. We need to draw strength daily from God, who alone is our rock, our fortress, our strength, our refuge, our everything. Hence prayer is essential. So we take time off to converse with God in quiet solitude, to derive strength for our daily sustenance, just as sages did in Vedic times.
Although the Mission Sisters come from diverse backgrounds, we promise to live together in true fraternity, love and unity. Our life, lived in a community, urges us to build other communities of love and mutual trust, We take three vows – of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience:
Vow of Poverty: We walk in the footsteps of Jesus, who took on our human nature, being born in poverty in a stable. For His sake, we adopt a life of simplicity, honesty and charity. We depend on our community for our needs and share our talents and time with those in need.
Vow of Chastity: The Sisters live like the Bal Brahmacharis, consecrated to the Lord in body, mind and spirit. We give up family life totally, so that we are able to embrace all people as our sisters and brothers.
Vow of Obedience: By our vow of Obedience we freely surrender our will to God in love, and oblige ourselves to obey our Superiors. Thus obedience implies service. We earnestly seek God’s will in all that we do. As we pray in Jesus’ prayer, the ‘Our Father’, ‘Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done’, we work to establish His Kingdom of universal justice, peace and love.