The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
(click on the logo for the UK website of our order)
The search for the origins of our religious community brings one face-to-face with two historic persons, Peter Coudrin, the Good Father, and Henriette Aymer, the Good Mother. These two people profoundly affected by the French Revolution and the cruelty which resulted from religious persecutions. They witnessed widespread hate and brutal injustice in their society. There was such an absence of love in their time and place that it seems almost natural that they would dedicate their lives to sharing the love of God as expressed in the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary - a mission of healing and reconciliation for the whole world.
In May 1792 amidst the climate of fear and persecution of the French Revolution Peter Coudrin, secretly ordained in March, 1792, arrived at a hiding place in which he was to have an experience that would change his life. The place was the granary of the Chateau d'Usseau. It was during this six month period of confinement that Father Coudrin had a vision in which he saw the congregation he was to found. He saw united around him a white robed society of priests, brothers, and sisters destined for education, reparation, and renewal in light of the Gospel of love. He left the cramped attic where he had been hiding, knelt under a large oak tree and offered his life to God. At great danger to his life, he spent the next several years ministering in disguise to the people in and around the city of Poitiers. He waited for an opportune moment to found a religious congregation, for he had become aware during his forced hiding in the granary that God was calling him to do this.
In 1794, he met Henriette Aymer de Chevalerie, who had undergone a profound religious experience while imprisoned by the revolutionaries for hiding a priest. On Christmas Eve, 1800, in the shadow of the guillotine, they founded a community of men and women dedicated to spreading the good news of God's unconditional love as manifested through the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, to making reparation through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and through the work of renewal.
The members of this new community were soon engaged in a variety of apostolates: schools, especially for the poor; the direction of diocesan seminaries; parish missions, and in 1827, were the first Catholic missionaries to go to the islands of the Pacific. When the founder died in 1837, the community numbered 276 brothers and 1125 sisters.
Historical circumstances, a sense of mission, and a prodigal readiness to respond to the pressing needs of the Church led the community to quickly spread beyond France. The world cried out for love. In the years following the Founders' deaths, the Congregation has indeed followed the Spirit's movement around the globe, to the point where our mission together in service of the Gospel is today carried out by over 3,000 priests, brothers, and sisters working every continent on the globe.
Blessed Damien, SS CC
Fr. Damien de Veuster was a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary who volunteered for the Hawaiian missions in 1863 at the age of 23. In 1873 he began his ministry of care for several hundred victims of leprosy confined to a small area on Molokai Island. During his sixteen years at the Kalawao Leprosarium, Father Damien "made himself a leper to the lepers in order to gain them for Christ," as he wrote his brother. He was priest, companion, consoler, nurse, doctor, carpenter, coffin-maker, peacemaker and a friend to all, especially the youthfull victims of leprosy.
In another letter of 1885 he wrote: "I cannot come to Honolulu, for leprosy has attacked me. There are signs of it on my left cheek and ear, and my eyebrows are beginning to fall; I shall soon be quite disfigured. As I have no doubt of the real character of the malady, I remain calm, resigned, and very happy in the midst of my people. The good God knows what is best for my sanctification, and I say daily 'Thy will be done,' with a ready heart". Father Damien died on April 15, 1889 at the age of 49.
Our Mission Statement
Inspired by the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary we want to reach out in love and compassion to the world
A Prayer
Dear God, In Jesus, Your Son, You have revealed Your love for the world. In Mary, You have taught us to respond to You in faith. Like them help us to comtemplate, live and proclaim Your love to all.
