Ursuline Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary
South African Province • Our Apostolic Works
Active Ministry in the Spirit of St. Paul
Our foundress, Mother Anne de Xainctonge, was a profound woman of action, deeply committed to empowering and educating others. When she successfully fought the secular and church judges in 1604, she explicitly rejected the traditional cloister, declaring that because Christ walked openly among humanity, women also have an authentic share in His active ministry.
Ever since our arrival in South Africa in 1934, the Sisters of the South African Province have actively implemented this mandate across the Mthatha Diocese. Empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness God's love, we dedicate our daily efforts to the service of God’s people through four foundational pillars of ministry:
The Anima Christi (Ignatian Ministry Prayer)
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Your wounds hide me. Separated from You let me never be. From the malicious enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me. And bid me come to You, that with Your saints I may praise You, forever and ever. Amen.
Education is our core Charism and the primary fundamental principle of our society. Following Mother Anne's foundational vision of providing girls with an education equal to that of the finest academies, we manage and teach in schools throughout the province. Our educational apostolate aims directly at instructing young girls and women, helping them recognize their dignity, elevate their state of life, and become strong, ethical leaders within both the Catholic and wider civic communities. From preschools to secondary education and literacy programs, we provide the intellectual and spiritual tools needed for true self-reliance.
The medical ministry of the Ursuline Sisters in the Eastern Cape is legendary. For decades, our sisters provided critical healthcare services, safely delivering thousands of babies and guiding rural mothers through childbirth. This heroic legacy is immortalized by the late Sister Jakoba and Sister Constantia, who spent the greater part of their long lives running **St. Mary’s Maternity Home in Umtata**. Though these pioneering Swiss sisters have returned to the Lord, our province continues to provide medical assistance, home-based care, and comforting presence to the sick, elderly, and infirm across the diocese, addressing contemporary health crises with professional skill and Christian compassion.
In close collaboration with Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, local diocesan priests, and religious brothers, our sisters serve as vital pillars in parish settings. True to Mother Anne's mission instruction to "instruct, console, and admonish," we direct parish catechesis, prepare children and adults for the sacraments, lead sodalities, and run deep spiritual formation programs. Our sisters travel extensive distances across rural parishes to ensure that the faithful are spiritually nourished, fostering a deep, living devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady within every Catholic home.
To fulfill St. Paul’s call to “be all things to all,” our sisters do not separate themselves from the economic and emotional struggles of humanity. We run active social welfare interventions, protect vulnerable orphans, offer counseling to families in crisis, and support community development initiatives. Our work explicitly transcends religious boundaries; our social outreach serves both the Catholic and non-Catholic communities. By providing practical skills training, food security support, and emergency relief, we seek to respond faithfully to contemporary needs, helping people discover the unconditional love of God.
