This month, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ will be honoring their rich and lengthy history with a weekend-long event called “Coming Home to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Poor Handmaid Presence in America.”
According to a new release from the organization, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ first came to America in 1868.
Over the last 150 years, they served in education, childcare, healthcare and other ministries in nearly 400 different organizations. The Sisters continue to minister today in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio and Rhode Island, as well as in Mexico, Brazil, Kenya and Germany.
The local “Coming Home” event will start at 1 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 17th with a reunion for former Poor Handmaids and Ancilla Domini High School students. The event will continue at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 18th with tours of the campus, social activities, displays and prayer gatherings as well as an early evening cemetery prayer service.
The final leg of the event will start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 19th. Bishop Kevin Rhoades from the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese will celebrate Mass in the Ancilla Domini Chapel at The Center at Donaldson. A reception and program will follow. All of these events are free and open to the public.
