Europe Mission

Poor Sisters of Our Lady, Rome Italy 1971.

Three Sisters came to Rome in 1971 to work for the department  of Tourism and Migration and staying with the Sisters at Via del Casseleto. In 1973 Archbishop D. Simon Lourdusamy was made the Sole Secretary of Propaganda Fide and the President of the four Dicastery’s. Hence he had to shift his residence from the “Collegio Urbano” (Urban College) to Palazzo Propaganda Fide, Piazza di Spagna 48. Archbishop Lourdusamy needed some sisters to take care of his new abode. Knowing Mother Patricia very well he requested her if she could spare some Sisters to help him at his new residence. We were delighted about this new opening in Rome. Thus, Sisters shifted from Via del Casseleto. to Piazza di Spagna on June 1, 1973.

They took care of household needs and did outdoor jobs. One helped Archbishop Lourdusamy with his Secretarial Work, correspondence, telephone calls, etc. In the absence of the Receptionist on Sundays, holidays and evenings we had to attend to the telephone calls from all over the mission world.

Archbishop Lourdusamy had visitors from all over. So, the Sisters were kept very busy throughout the day.

On May 25, 1985 Archbishop Lourdusamy was raised to the rank of a Cardinal. In October of the same year he was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. With this new change we had to shift from Palazzo Propaganda Fide to the Vatican City). Thus, the sisters had to change their residence once again. The work continued as usual.

The Sisters were engaged in work for the secretary of the Propaganda Fide, Cardinal Lourdsamy.
Death of Cardinal Valerian Gracias on September 11, 1978 was a big blow to the Sisters and a big loss to the Congregation as whole. Even though the Congregation was now firm on its feet they lost a moral support.