Malaysia

Brief history of The Province

In 1905, 4 Canossian Sisters from Singapore arrived in Melaka, Malaysia. They were invited by the Portuguese Mission of Macau for the care of the poor children in the field of Education .
Malaysia and Singapore were one Province, named St. Anthony’s Province until 1 January 1994 where Malaysia became a Province : Mater Dei Province of Malaysia.
At present, we are 32 Sisters. The youngest Sister being 35years of age and the oldest is 102 years. Our average age is 66 years old.

Communities:

• At present, we have 4 main communities and a Provincialate community. Two apostolic groups (Montfort Girls Centre and Montfort Youth Centre) attached to 2 of the main communities.At present, we have 4 main communities and a Provincialate community. Two apostolic groups (Montfort Girls Centre and Montfort Youth Centre) attached to 2 of the main communities.
• Our communities stretch from north-west to southwest of Peninsula Malaysia and with the public transport getting more convenient soon, with the progress of the Mega Projects of Rapid Transit System in the country, we are more accessible to one another.
• Most of us, sisters are still active in the ministries except for our 6 Sisters who are our ‘Mountain of Gems’ and Sisters with health deficiency. Nevertheless, they are equally as active as the rest of us, as they are our powerhouse of prayer and sacrifices, offered daily for the effectiveness and fruitfulness of our mission.

Interculturality in our community / Province

As Malaysians, it is inborn in us the value of interculturality because of the very nature of our country being multi-racial.
Therefore, to embrace interculturality as a way of life as Canossians in our community and Province, our acceptance of each other should go beyond the differences of race, culture, and language. St Magdalene calls us to intensify our fraternal communion to be WOMEN OF COMMUNION FOR THE SAKE OF THE MISSION.

APOSTOLATE.

Besides our Institutional Ministries : Kindergartens, Home for the Elderly Poor where we serve hand in hand with our lay partners , our new ministerial apostolic choices come under the umbrella of the dioceses of the Peninsular Malaysian Church initiated by the local Arch/Bishops.

• CHAPLAINCY /CAMPUS MINISTRY to several Malaysian universities.
• CHAPLAINCY /CAMPUS MINISTRY to several Malaysian universities.
• YOUTH EVANGELIZATION SCHOOL – an annual event of a month attended by catholic students after completion of their secondary education.
• SCHOOL OF VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT: a pre-preparation for priesthood , religious life and lay Pastoral workers.
• FORMATION TO FAMILY LIFE MINISTRY.
• INSTITUTE OF NEW EVANGELIZATION (a new and well-organized program for the training of religious and lay evangelizers – youth and adults).
• Networking with Gabrielite Brothers in the Montfort Youth Centres.