The Institute of the Sisters of Saint Ann was founded in Turin, Italy, in 1834 with the support of the Marquis and Marchioness of Barolo, Carlo Tancredi Falletti and his wife Giulia.
The most important element in the spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Ann is a life lived in union with the Blessed Trinity.
In addition to this Trinitarian focus of their spirituality, they want to give to the Church a religious institute that is dedicated to the instruction of needy children and young girls. Through this institute, and especially through its Trinitarian emphasis, they want to reach out to children and young people in all walks of life in such a way that the sisters of the institute are available for any and all charitable services as needed.
Soon after beginning, the Institute of the Sisters of Saint Ann extended its efforts beyond Italy to the missions, first of all to India, and then to 12 other countries. Among these 12 countries was the United States. At the present time, in the United States, the congregational ministries include teaching in diocesan elementary and secondary schools, giving catechetical instruction, engaging in pastoral ministry, retreat apostolates, youth groups, missions and many other apostolates.
Their motivation for taking on a particular ministry is their judgment, affirmed by local ecclesial leaders, that there is a clear need for its contribution to the local Church in the area in which they are being invited to begin.
Archbishop J. Fulton Sheen first invited the Sisters of Saint Ann to the United States. They went to Ebensberg, Pennsylvania where they began their United States ministry with a kindergarten class; and there, one of the sisters continues today to teach 2nd grade at All Saints School. There also, the congregation has a retreat center, which offers retreat opportunities to various groups.
Early in the 1990s, the Parochial Vicar of Most Precious Blood Parish in Corpus Christi, Father Frank Stodola, invited the Sisters of Saint Ann to come to minister in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The congregation accepted this invitation with enthusiasm, and the first Sisters of Saint Ann arrived in Corpus Christi on Aug. 11, 1992. The pioneer sisters were Sister Anna Maria Lorenzon, SSA, Sister Emiliana Mampallil, SSA, Sister Lourdes Gunao, SSA and Sister Nenet Pula, SSA.
The Episcopal Vicar for Religious, Msgr. Thomas Meany, met the sisters at the airport. With Msgr. Meany were Father Stodola, Gilbert Saenz the headmaster of Corpus Christi Academy and the Saenz family.
Sister Sweeney, SSMN, welcomed the sisters at the convent. Also welcoming them was Yvette Sanchez, a teacher at Corpus Christi Academy and the cheerleaders of the Academy. Together the various groups gave praise and thanks to God for bringing the sisters safely to this new assignment, which they judged to be full of youthful hope and promise.
On Aug. 28, 1992, the feast of Saint Augustine, one of the outstanding ecclesial educators in the Church, Bishop René Gracida, officiated at the first school Mass for Corpus Christi Academy. In a brief ceremony after the Eucharistic celebration, the bishop met the sisters and gave them a hearty welcome to the diocese.
The sisters ministered at Corpus Christi Academy for some years, but when the school closed–after a relatively brief period of time–the Sisters of Saint Ann relocated to Saint Joseph’s Parish in Corpus Christi where, up to the present, they reside in Saint Joseph’s Convent, 2100 Morris Street.
From Saint Joseph’s Convent, the sisters minister in a variety of ways. On Sundays, they serve as Eucharistic ministers at Saint Joseph’s, the parish of their residence, and also teach religious education classes. During the week, they minister in different diocesan parishes and schools.
Sister Emiliana is Director of Lay Formation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish where she also teaches religion to seventh and eighth grade students. Sister Lucia D’Cunha, SSA teaches second grade at Saint Patrick’s Parochial School while Sister Nancy Menezes, SSA teaches third grade at Christ the King School.
Their ministries show that they are in harmony with the thrust of the worldwide Sisters of Saint Ann; wherever they see a need, the sisters ministering in the Diocese of Corpus Christi will strive to meet that need. Their efforts to meet diverse needs of the Church is indeed a response which brings them great joy and a sense of fulfillment.
May God continue to give them the blessings and direction, which they need to lead others to Him.