History of the SABS Congregation

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS) was officially founded on 8 December 1908. On that day, the first members received the religious veil at St. George’s Church, Edathua.

The congregation began through the Eucharistic faith and love of Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1873–1925), the first Bishop of Changanassery, and Rev. Mother Francisca de Chantal (1880–1972), the first member of the congregation.

The first community life of the SABS sisters began in a cowshed at Edathua. The cowshed belonged to Servant of God Puthenparambil Thommachen, who was popularly known as “Kerala Assisi.” The first convent was started on 10 December 1908 at Champakulam, in Alappuzha district, Kerala, South India.

The Eucharistic Vision of Mar Thomas Kurialacherry

From his childhood, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry strongly desired to have a group of people who would adore the Holy Eucharist, which he considered the greatest expression of God’s love for humanity.

He studied at Mannanam and later received his priestly formation at Propaganda College in Rome. During this time, his love for Jesus in the Eucharist grew deeper. He often visited chapels near his school and college and spent long hours in Eucharistic adoration.

His prayer before the Blessed Sacrament developed in him a deep personal relationship with Jesus. He strongly desired that the Holy Eucharist should be known, loved, and adored by everyone, always and everywhere.

He was inspired by the words of Jesus:

“I am come to cast fire on earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?”
(Luke 12:49)

He wanted to bring people to the true faith and to Eucharistic adoration. He believed that this would help overcome ignorance, lack of faith, and other social and religious problems in Kerala and India.

The Beginning of the Congregation

While he was a seminarian in Rome, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry had a dream in which he saw a group of sisters adoring the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in his homeland.

This strengthened his desire to establish a congregation of women who would adore the Blessed Sacrament constantly, day and night, like angels before the heavenly throne.

After his ordination on 27 May 1899, Fr. Thomas Kurialacherry returned to Kerala as a young and enthusiastic priest. He continued to work towards establishing the congregation.

During a sermon on devotion to the Sacred Heart at Kalloorkad Church in Champakulam, a young widow named Philomina Vallayil experienced great joy and peace. After the sermon, she met the priest and expressed her desire to become a religious sister and dedicate her life to the adoration of the Lord.

Fr. Thomas believed that Philomina could be the person who would help him establish the new congregation. He blessed her and compared her to Chantal going to Francis de Sales and Clare going to Francis of Assisi.

The First Community

Fr. Thomas knew that starting a new religious congregation would involve many difficulties and challenges. However, he trusted completely in God.

He gave spiritual guidance to Philomena and other young women who wanted to join the congregation. He also sent them to schools where they could live and study in a religious atmosphere.

When he was the Vicar of Edathua, he provided them with a place to stay in a cowshed belonging to Puthenparambil Thommachen on 29 January 1908.

This was their first home. It helped them learn the values of poverty and humility from the very beginning. The sisters considered it a special blessing that their congregation began in such simple surroundings, similar to the humble surroundings of Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

After twelve days, they moved to a boathouse owned by Thekkedathu Peedikayil Kurian Varkey, located opposite Edathua Church.

The Birth of the Congregation

On 8 December 1908, the first six members received the religious veil. This marked the official beginning of the congregation.

On 10 December 1908, they moved to the first convent at Champakulam. In spite of many difficulties, Fr. Thomas built temporary sheds for the convent and school.

In 1911, Fr. Thomas was appointed Bishop of Changanassery. On 10 December 1911, he conducted the vestition ceremony of the first five aspirants of the congregation. This was also his first official function as bishop.

On 18 March 1916, the members made their religious profession at Parel Church, Changanassery.

Growth of the Congregation

The small beginning of 1908 gradually grew into a strong congregation. The members grew in faith and strength under the spiritual guidance of Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry.

Bishop Thomas died on 2 June 1925 while visiting Rome. At the time of his death, the congregation had:

• 9 convents
• 73 professed sisters
• 61 novices
• 35 aspirants

After his death, the congregation was guided by Dr. James Kalacherry, the next Bishop of Changanassery.

The first Perpetual Adoration Chapel was blessed at Vazhappally, Changanassery, on 2 October 1935. This was something Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry had desired and planned.

Expansion in Kerala

At the request of Mar Augustine Kandathil, Archbishop of Ernakulam and a great devotee of the Eucharist, a group of sisters was sent to the Ernakulam Archdiocese.

A house was opened at Koratty on 7 May 1930. In 1948, it became an independent unit with a new Mother General and four convents.

In 1950, the Diocese of Changanassery was divided into two dioceses: Changanassery and Pala. As a result, the SABS congregation in Changanassery was also divided into two independent units, Changanassery and Pala, on 8 April 1952.

When the Ernakulam Archdiocese was divided in 1961, the congregation received a new unit in the Diocese of Kothamangalam.

The congregation continued to grow quickly and steadily. The sisters were happy to go to different parts of Kerala to make Jesus in the Eucharist known and loved.

Missionary Work in North Kerala

The sisters from the Pala unit and other places came forward to serve the people who had migrated to Malabar. This was done at the request of Bishop Sebastian Vallopally.

The first house was opened at Mananthavady in 1956. More convents were established later, and in 1965, St. Joseph’s Province, Thalassery, was established.

For many years, the congregation functioned as separate units in different dioceses of Kerala, following the same rule given by the founder.

However, there was a need to unite all the units under one Mother General so that the constitution of the congregation could receive approval from the Holy See.

The efforts for unification began in 1954. Rev. Fr. Eliseus OCD was appointed as the Apostolic Delegate for this work. Later, Rev. Fr. Francis Sales CMI became the President of the Unification Process.

Finally, on 15 September 1963, Mother Espirith was elected as the first Mother General of the unified SABS Congregation. In this way, the long-standing desire to unite the congregation became a reality.

The Generalate, Cenacle, at Aluva, was blessed on 18 March 1969 by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Parekattil, Archbishop of Ernakulam. Cenacle is rightly called the powerhouse of the congregation, because it is the centre that unites all the sisters.

Pontifical Status

Another important day in the history of the congregation was 11 February 1968.

On this day, the Church officially approved the constitution of the congregation and raised SABS to Pontifical status.

His Eminence Cardinal Furstuinburg, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Eastern Rites, made the proclamation during a solemn ceremony at Cenacle.

Many Church leaders and dignitaries attended the ceremony, including Cardinal Parekattil, Rt. Rev. Joseph Caprio, the Internuncio, Msgr. Rici, Msgr. Duprex, several bishops, priests, and sisters.

Thus, SABS became a Pontifical Congregation, and its revised constitution was approved on an experimental basis.

Mission Outside Kerala

The congregation then began to move beyond Kerala to spread the message of God’s love and make Jesus in the Eucharist known.

At the request of Bishop Hubert D’Rosario, the Bishop of Dibrugarh in Assam, a group of sisters from the Pala Province went to Manipur on 3 December 1965.

The first SABS house outside Kerala was established at Hundung in Manipur.

This was a major step into a new and unfamiliar mission field. It opened the way for more SABS houses to be established in North and North-East India.

The sisters became involved in many areas of service, including:

• Education
• Healthcare and healing ministry
• Social service
• Development programmes
• Service to people in remote villages

Through these activities, they worked to bring the Good News to people who had never heard about Jesus Christ.

SABS Around the World

By 2022, the SABS congregation had 11 provinces in Kerala and 11 mission provinces outside Kerala in India.

The successful missionary work in India encouraged the congregation to begin missions in other countries. SABS missionaries are now present in:

• Germany
• Italy
• USA
• Switzerland
• England
• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Peru
• East Africa

In 2016, East Africa became a province. At that time, it had 91 sisters in 23 convents: 10 in Kenya, 9 in Tanzania, 3 in Uganda, and 1 in Germany.

SABS Today

Today, about 5,000 SABS sisters witness to and share the Eucharistic love of Jesus throughout the world in 10 countries.

Their mission is to make Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament known, loved, and adored.

The sisters are involved in different apostolic ministries, including:

• Eucharistic apostolate
• Education
• Healing ministry
• Social apostolate
• Family apostolate

The vision of the Founder and Co-Foundress continues to inspire many people and remains a source of strength for the congregation.

Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry

The Process of Beatification and Canonization of the Founder of SABS, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, began in 1983.

The Positio on his heroic virtues was submitted to the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1996. It was studied by a team of eight theologians and a Promoter of Faith.

On 2 April 2011, Pope Benedict XVI officially declared Mar Thomas Kurialacherry Venerable.

His tomb at the Cathedral Church of Changanassery has become a pilgrimage centre. People visit the tomb and pray for his intercession.

The congregation continues to pray for the acceptance and recognition of the required miracles through his intercession so that the process of his canonization may move forward.