Founded in 1808 in Verona, Italy, by St. Magdalene of Canossa, the Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor, are an international religious congregation rooted in the love of Christ Crucified. Inspired by His sacrifice on the Cross, St. Magdalene dedicated her life to sharing God’s love with the poor and the marginalized.
Cannosian Daughters presence in Uganda
Though the congregation has existed for over 200 years, in Uganda, it is 55 years since the sisters came for mission in 1971. They celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 2021. Here in Uganda, the Cannosian sisters are in St. Joseph Catholic Parish Lweza, Kampala archdiocese and in Bethlehem Parish, in the Diocese of Masaka.
Mission
The Sisters live their mission by making Jesus known and loved through education, evangelization, pastoral care of the sick, spiritual exercises, and formation of the laity. In addition to teaching catechesis in schools and parishes, the Canossians share the Word of God through recollections, retreats, and spiritual direction. The aim of the Canossian mission is the fulfillment of the greatest commandment of love, love of God and love of neighbor, while seeking the personal sanctification of the sisters and the spiritual growth of those they serve.
They run a school in Lweza – St. Joseph’s nursery and primary with the aim of forming hearts and offers quality education, build on the care values of fear of God’s love, honesty and hard work. They also organize programs for young ladies: a “come and see” for those who would wish to join them. The invited are those from S.4 onwards and are inspired to serve the Lord as Canossian sisters. The program takes place in Canossian sisters’ convent Lweza parish for a period of 5 to 7 days.
Saint Josephine Bakhita
A powerful witness to this charism is Saint Josephine Bakhita, affectionately known as “our universal sister”. Born in Sudan in 1869, she endured the suffering of slavery before encountering freedom and faith through the Canossian Sisters. Baptized in 1890, she later became a Canossian Sister and was canonized in 2000. Today, she is the patron saint of victims of slavery and human trafficking.
Spirituality
The Congregation’s spirituality draws from the example of Mary, Mother of Charity, at the foot of the Cross, guiding them in community life and service. Faithful to Christ’s command to “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel” (Mk 16:15), the Canossian Daughters of Charity continue to touch lives through compassionate service, formation, and a living witness of God’s greatest love.
The sisters welcome young women with the interest of serving the Lord to join them who have finished at least S.6 with two principle passes and S.4 with professional training in areas of education, nursing, administration, accounting, etc. Their formation takes place in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania for around 4 years. The age limit is 30 years.
The requirements to come along with include: Baptism card, Academic results from P.7, Letter from parish priest, Letter from the parents, Personal effects, Transport to and fro, Pen and a notebook, Holy Bible.
You can reach out to the Sisters at
Canossian Daughters of charity- Lweza
P.O Box 21712, Kampala- Uganda
0705299237/ 0789601323/ 0741966460
josephinekembe@gmail.com and theosfdcc21@gmail.com
