Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Gemma

The Missionary Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Gemma was founded on 4 May 1939 in Camigliano Santa Gemma, Lucca. The foundress is Venerable Mother Gemma Eufemia Giannini.

They are called the Sisters of Saint Gemma because of the kinship, certainly not of blood but undoubtedly of spirit, that bound Saint Gemma to the young Eufemia, beginning in the years when Galgani was welcomed by the Giannini family as their “twelfth daughter”, and mystically continued in Giannini’s vocational choices, first as a Passionist nun and then as a foundress. The adolescent Eufemia was very close to Saint Gemma, both as a friend and confidante and as an eyewitness to the profound spirituality and mystical events experienced by the young woman. She was deeply marked by her and became her spiritual heir. This noble and lofty legacy was entrusted to them so that they might live it and bring it to the Church and the world “to the ends of the earth!”. The Congregation is of Pontifical Right.

Charism

The spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Gemma is founded on Christ Crucified as the revelation of God’s infinite Love for humanity. In concrete terms, this spirituality is expressed in the characteristic qualities of simplicity, charity, humility and sacrifice that already belonged to Galgani. In a spirit of fraternal joy, they live the family spirit, seeking to make their communities cenacles of charity and welcome. They live on the fruits of their work and the support of divine Providence. The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Gemma belongs to the Passionist family, whose founder was Paolo della Croce. Their mission in the Church and in the world flows naturally from their charism and has three dimensions: prayer, intercession and offering. Indeed, the apostolate begins each day before the cross and from the Eucharist.