By Malini Manjoly
Patna: The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth has elected two Indians to its three-member central leadership team.
The 206-year-old congregation conducted the elections during its general assembly held during May-June, according to information received from the order’s headquarters in Nazareth, Kentucky, United States.
Its new president is Sister Sangeeta Ayithamattam from India, who was one of the vice presidents for the past six years. The two new vice presidents are Jackulin Jesu from India, and Adeline Fehribach from the US.
Sister Ayithamattam is the second Indian to head the congregation. Earlier, Sister Shalini D’Souza was elected president.
The new team will begin their term in this ministry of leadership on September 1.
The congregation was founded in 1812 by Bishop John Baptise Marie David along with Catherine Spalding as its first superior at St. Thomas Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky.
The congregation works in Botswana in Africa, Belize in Central America, India and Nepal in South Asia, besides the United States. The general congregation has decided to establish a new mission in Kenya in Africa.
The Sisters follow the charity charism of St. Vincent de Paul.