HISTORY
First inspiration
Patriarch Elias Howayek first thought of founding a national missionary religious Congregation for women the year 1870 when he entered the priesthood. As he visited the towns and villages, as
Providential meeting
Howayek’s plans matured in 1893 following a meeting with Mother Rosalie Nasr, a Lebanese, and Sister Stephanie Kardoush, from Nazareth, both of whom had arrived from the Holy Land to
First House, foundation mass
Patriarch Elias Howayek did not have sufficient funds at the time but he made ready for Providence to intervene. There appeared a benefactress, Ursula Lahood from Amsheet, who proposed a
The name of the Holy Family
The Father Founder handed over to Mother Rosalie authority and responsibility, with Sister Stephanie Kardoush as her Assistant. The name of the Holy Family was given to the Congregation, a
From Jbeil to Ebrine
After ten months, the benefactress requested they vacate the premises. The small Congregation, at the suggestion of the Father Founder, moved to a school in the south of Jbeil. This
A Great Setback
After four long years and the preliminary labor of foundation, the young Congregation experienced a great setback. On the night of 22-23 August in the year 1899, Mother Rosalie died
Deep Faith
“The Founding of a Congregation is a divine and not human work, dependent on Providence. It endures through God, who made it grow and looked after it ... He will
Later on
The Father Founder wrote in one of his letters to the Sisters, referring to Saint Paul’s letter, “I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work
And Now
Today the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family has extended its mission from Lebanon to other countries. The sister lives in sisterly love in community in the