Malaysia

Brief history of the Province

In 1905, four Canossian Sisters from Singapore arrived in Melaka, Malaysia. They were invited by the Portuguese Mission in Macao to take care of the education of poor children. Malaysia and Singapore were then one Province, called the Province of “St. Anthony”, until 1^st January 1994, when Malaysia became an autonomous Province known as the Province of “Mater Dei”.

Currently, we are 30 Sisters: the youngest is 39 years old and the oldest is 89. The average age is 64.

Communities

Currently, we have four main communities and one Provincial community. Two apostolic groups (Montfort Girls Centre and Montfort Youth Centre) are attached to two of the main communities. Our communities extend from the northwest to the southwest of Peninsula Malay. With the improvement of public transportation, thanks to the mega projects of the Rapid Transit System, we are more accessible to each other.

Most of us Sisters are still active in ministries, except for six Mothers, whom we call our “Mountains of Gems”, who suffer health difficulties. However, they are also active, as they constitute our strength of prayer and sacrifice offered daily for the effectiveness and fruitfulness of our mission.

Interculturality in our community/Province

Being Malaysians, interculturality is an innate value, given the multi-ethnic nature of our country. Therefore, embracing interculturality as a way of life as Canossians in our community and Province means accepting each other beyond the differences of race, culture and language. St. Magdalene invites us to intensify our fraternal communion to be WOMEN OF COMMUNION FOR MISSION.

Most of us Sisters are still active in ministries, except for six Mothers, whom we call our “Mountains of Gems”, who are in health difficulties. However, they are also active, as they constitute our strength of prayer and sacrifice offered daily for the effectiveness and fruitfulness of our mission.

APOSTOLATE

In addition to our Institutional Ministries – Nursery schools and Homes for the Elderly who are poor, where we serve side by side with our lay partners. Our new apostolic ministry choices are in tune with those of the Dioceses of the Peninsular Malay Church, initiated by the local Archbishops and Bishops.

• CHAPLAINCY / CAMPUS MINISTRY to various Malaysian universities.
• EVANGELIZATION SCHOOL FOR YOUTH – an annual month-long event attended by Catholic students after having completed their secondary education.
• SCHOOL FOR VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT: a preliminary preparation for the priesthood, religious life and lay pastoral workers.
• FORMATION FOR THE MINISTRY OF FAMILY LIFE.
• INSTITUTE OF NEW EVANGELIZATION (a new and well-organized program for the formation of religious and lay evangelizers – young people and adults).
• Networking with the Gabrielite Brothers in the Montfort Youth Centres.