History of the GBI Province
The Province of G.B.I. was born as a consequence of the 1881 Jules Ferry Law which suppressed religious schools, and all forms of clerical and religious dress. This meant the “Filles de La Sagesse” had to withdraw from their schools and colleges.
1891 - 1906
Some English bishops invited groups of sisters to extend their
apostolate in England. Between small communities of French Sisters
were set up in Alton, Rye, Cricklewood, Kelvedon, Liverpool, Preston,
Leicester and Gateshead. These flourished into large Institutions in
Romsey, Liverpool, Preston, Newcastle, London, Blackpool and Chorley,
which served the educational, social and health needs of the Society of
the day.
As the numbers of British women joining the Daughters of Wisdom grew, the Province set up its own House of initiation into the Life of a Daughter of Wisdom. According to the needs of the time, the “Novitiate” was set up in Liverpool, then it was moved to Romsey, Preston, North Berwick and Windermere.
| 1910 In April, the Province was re-named the Province of Great Britain and Ireland as foundations had been made in Ireland and in Scotland by then. 1919-1939 During the Period between the two world wars the Congregation resumed its Missionary expansion and English Sisters left for Shire, (now Malawi) and for Haiti. Years Later the Province sent Sisters to India, and to Papua New Guinea. |
 Sewing in the garden of 14 The Abbey, Romsey, Englandearly 20th century |
1939-1945
During the Second World War British
Daughters of Wisdom working in France were arrested and interned.
At home, they lived through air raids, evacuation, invasion threats, rationing and shortage of food while they continued to run the institutions as well as caring for the wounded, the bereaved, and the fearful.
1947
July 20th Pius X11 proclaimed
Louis Marie Saint. We treasure the memory of the Miracle Room in Romsey where Sister
Gerard saw Our Lady and Louis Marie. Her cure in 1927 was accepted as a miracle needed for Louis
Marie’s Canonisation. The room was a place of pilgrimage until 2008 when the building was declared un-safe
1950
On December 8th
Pope Pius X11
convened the First International Congress for Religious.
This gave rise to the Extraordinary Chapter in 1951, when the sisters were advised to:
Be present to today’s world.
Be faithful to the aim of the Congregation and
adapt accordingly.”
A slight modification of the French peasant costume was made at this time, but the “silhouette” remained.
1962
Pope John opened the Second Vatican Council that aimed to bring the
Church up to date.
August 22 1965
We changed the French peasant dress of 1703 for a
more serviceable form of dress. Also monastic customs, incompatible with
our apostolic way of
life, were abandoned.
We began to look at different life-styles and areas of ministry. Sisters were sent to where people are, living in smaller groups among the wider community. This trend continues today.
May 16 1993
The Beatification of Marie Louise by Pope John Paul II contributed to
the deepening of our Wisdom Spirituality, the missionary thrust of the
Congregation, and its Internationality.
Chapter 2000,
The Congregation considered the call of Wisdom for the 3rd.
Millennium, a time for new
beginnings, a critical moment in the evolution of a New World.
We stand on the shoulders of all former Daughters of Wisdom as we continue to discover, like Marie Louise in her day, new ways of living Consecrated Life, that resonate in today’s rapidly changing world and to the resulting needs of the Earth and Society, locally, globally and ecologically.
Our Mission has changed from running institutes, schools, hospitals, orphanages, etc. to taking an active part in many different issues, such as the trafficking of humans, the needs of Asylum Seekers and Refugees, issues of Justice, Peace and integrity of Creation, Social issues, violation of human rights, pastoral work within prisons, universities and hospitals, etc.
Our vowed and consecrated Life gives us the freedom to be counter-cultural and to fulfil a “Prophetic Role” in contemporary society. We vow to promote the Spiritual aspects of human life and to be bearers of the Christian Gospel Message. Our Religious Community is the place where we meet Christ Wisdom and others; where, together, we listen, discern and respond to the needs of today. We are doing this in a new way and with growing cooperation between various institutes and lay people and with a new language of Wisdom, Love, Compassion and Hope.