THE PATRON OF THE SCHOOL

SAINT THATIPATHRI GNANAMMA (1822-1874)

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne-Madras was founded by a lay woman namely Thatipathri Gnanamma. She was born in 1822 at Phirangipuram in Guntur District in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, as the second child of Gali Rayanna and Mariamma. A pious devout couple. Gnanamma was deeply prayerful and grew to become a pure, humble and simple young girl embedded with the virtues of charity, piety, generosity, Sacrifice and hard work, the rich values practised by her parents. In 1837, young Gnanamma was given in marriage to Innaiah, then catechist of Phirangipuram. The pious couple Innaiah and Gnanamma had five sons and curiously they had no daughters, for providence had reserved thousands of girls to be adopted by Gnanamma in the later days.

           Widowhood came as a storm in her life at the age of 37.  Freed at last from all family Commitments, Gnanamma moved to a village called Kilacheri, 40 kms from Chennai (Earlier known as Madras) and settled down there. Thus, the infinite wisdom of God led her step to Kilacheri the cradle, the very Bethlehem of the new Congregation.

            During her time, the education of young girls was an impossible dream. Fr.Arokianathar, the parish priest of Kilacheri, helped her to reflect concretely and starting a school at Kilacheri for girls. In 1862, she sold off all her properties to meet the expenses for starting a school at Kilacheri.  She started a school exclusively for girls in 1863.

           In 1871, the two young women, requested Gnanamma to let them help in her work and expressed their desire to live and do service as nuns for their lifetime. Fr. Arokianathar trained them under the Sisters of Congregation of Good Shepherd at St. Anne’s Novitiate, Bellary. The Specific vision for the betterment of women known as “Society of the Sisters of St. Anne – Madras” was born. This was the seed that was sown for the two future religious congregations for women initiated by Gnanamma. 

            Gnanamma was suffering from asthma, feeling that her end was drawing near, she called all her spiritual daughters and gave them her last instructions. She received the last sacraments from the hands of Fr. Rathna Nathar and went to her enternal reward on 21^st   December 1874 in the age of 52. She is the Foundress of two Congregations, namely, St. Anne’s Madras and St. Anne’s Phirangipuram. 

              On September 21, 2013 Rev Dr. Goerge Antonysamy raised her as Saint, on January 21, 2014 the Holy See declared Thatipathri Gnanamma Innaiah as servant of God. Let us continue to pray for this special intention.

                               HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION

       The origin of our Congregation is tracked back to 19^thCentury in the state of Madras province, India.  It was founded by Thatipathri Gnanamma, a lay woman from Phirangipuram, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh.

        Our Congregation was raised to the Pontifical status on 6^thDecember 1979 by Pope John Paul II. The Generalate is located in Madawaram – Chennai. In 1987, Our Congregation was divided into three administrative regional units with separate head quarters in Bangalore,Chennai and Tanjore.

          Today, there a number of challenges that perpetuate sadly the marginalization of certain segments of the population. We, the followers of Gnanamma, address these issues through various specific services.

           As our predecessors were true to the vision of our Founders by opening schools in Remote Villages to educate the girls. We have opened health centers, homes for Children, Widows, the handicapped and the aged as well as social work centers in remote villages and  tribal areas to work for the liberation. We cross borders create new boundaries and take up any mission that serves the poorest of the poor.

          The journey which Gnanamma took in 1874 with two young professed sisters, has reached the state where we are today. We March on with great vigour reaching out to the people who are on the periphery. We are confident that the strong vibrations of our Foundress will continue to illuminate, guide, protect, preserve, increase and strengthen us in our journey of religious life and committed missions towards a just and equal society. At present, the numerical strength of our Congregation is 617 with 134 houses in 43 Dioceses.   Beatified, Blessed saint “Thatipathiri Gnanamma’s Feast Day” is celebrated as St. Anne’s Feast Day on 26^th July.