OUR FOUNDRESS

Katharina Kasper, Foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, was born May 26, 1820 in Dernbach, Germany to her parents Henry Kasper and Katherine (Fassel). Her father had four daughters from his first marriage and he and Katharina’s mother had four children. Katharina is the third daughter in her family. As a young child, Katharina attended school in her village, helped in the family's potato patch, enjoyed reading, and did household chores like spinning and weaving fabric.

Katharina and her peers often walked to a Marian shrine near their village, singing songs while Katharina told stories about God and Mary. When she was 21, Katharina's father died, with the law dictating his property bequeathed to his first wife, (to the exclusion of the second Mrs. Kasper and her children). Consequently, Katharina and her 56-year old mother "lived in rent" with the Matthias Müller family, with Katharina working the land as a farm hand.

Because of her reputation for helping others, young girls gathered around Katharina. Together she and four other women formed the religious community called "The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ" and pronounced vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on August 15, 1851. Their ministry continued throughout Germany and spread the Netherlands, United States, England, India, Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria.

Katharina Kasper, known as Mother Mary, died on Feb. 2, 1898. In acknowledgment of her good works, the Catholic Church named her Blessed Katharina Kasper on April 16, 1978.

The congregation of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ was established in India on November 25, 1970 at Dhani. Indore diocese, Madhya Pradesh. Today we can be found in 13 dioceses both in the north and south of India. 

AN ALERT YOUNG WOMAN NAMED CATHERINE STARTED IT ALL! She felt an urge to respond to the social needs of her day. Discovering that this desire was God's call to begin a community.

In 1851 she chose the name POOR HANDMAIDS OF JESUS CHRIST for this new religious congregation to describe the spirit that guided the community's actions. Katherine looked to Mary the first handmaid as her model. Today we describe this charism as attentive listening to the Holy Spirit and the courageous response of following God's will. 

Like Katherine our Attention is drawn to those who need help. We respond through a variety of ministries serving the poor and vulnerable in our midst. 

Today we are an international congregation of 800 Sisters in nine countries on four continents. Living and ministering in the same spirit of Katherine, Associates and members of Fiat Spiritus Community are Integral to the life of the congregation. Following Christ in the way of Blessed Katherine Kasper is very much alive today. 

Do you desire to serve those in need supported by community and prayer? Do you want to live Attentively and respond generously? Discover more about the Poor handmaids of Jesus Christ by visiting our websites.

http://www.poorhandmaids.org/

http://kksss.org.in

http://generalate.phjc.org

Contact:

PHJC

Seva Nilaya

38/4 – Davis Road

Cooke Town

Bangalore – 560084 Karnataka State – India

Phone: (91) 80 25478852, (91) 80 41215288

Fax: (91) 80/25469893