Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts

Founder of the Congregation: St. John Antony Farina, established in Vicenza in 11/11/1836,
Country of Origin: Vicenza – Italy and present in four continents: Europe, America, Asia, and Africa

Who are we?
The Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothea– Daughters of the Sacred Hearts.
The establishment of this Congregation is linked to Father John Antony Farina, who was appointed, after his ordination, as an assistant priest in the parish of St. Peter, which was the poorest parish in the city of Vicenza. He was entrusted by the bishop of the diocese to manage the St. Dorothea Charitable Association, which aimed to provide Christian education to young girls and women from the common people, especially to greatly neglected girls. After several years, he was entrusted with the management of the school of charity, this initiative was established in the parish with the aim of “educating the lenience souls of girls in the fear of God through education that they cannot receive from their families”. After some time, some difficulties arose, especially with the teachers who received a salary. From here, Farina gradually matured his conviction of the need for a radical change in the structure of the school, by accepting girls who were invited to live together according to their own law, dedicating themselves to educational service within the spirituality of complete self-giving.
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, John Antony Farina knew the possibility of diving into deep prayer closely linked to life.

These two Hearts for him are beating and true Hearts, a source of protection and guidance, with full awareness of the necessity of combining austerity and leniency at the same time. Austerity is for self-control, and therefore, it elevates and purifies every intention and action a person takes.
After obtaining the approval of the diocesan bishop, “Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy – Daughters of the Sacred Hearts” was officially founded on the eleventh of November in 1836 in the city of Vicenza – San Domenico. St. John was open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and his zealous love stemming from his love for the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, made him respond generously by meeting the needs he encountered on his way, especially caring for abandoned and neglected girls on the streets, extending his mission to care for the sick, elderly, deaf and mute, and blind girls.
The qualities that the founder Farina saw in his Sisters, that a nun should be: courageous, generous, strong, and ready to give herself completely for the One who loved the world and gave Himself for its salvation.
Today, the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts continue the mission of their founder St. John Antony Farina by walking in the path of love that he drew for them by opening the doors of the world to return to His love.
Father John Antony Farina became the bishop of the city of Treviso in 1950, then became the bishop of Vicenza in 1860, where he remained until his death at the age of eighty-five.
He was beatified on the fourth of November in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, and his canonization was announced on the twenty-third of November in 2014 by Pope Francis.
The gift of the Congregation (charism) and spirituality:
The name of the Congregation of “Teaching Sisters of St. Dorothy – Daughters of the Sacred Hearts” embodies the apostolic and spiritual goal that distinguishes it.
Echoing in the heart of the founder St. John Farina was the desire of Jesus “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). The founder urged his Sisters, saying: “And you, who have been attracted by Christ’s Heart, keep this fire constantly burning, let it blaze within you.”
The Daughters of the Sacred Hearts, fuelled by this gift, seek to embody the emotions of these two Hearts with an outpouring of love even unto the giving of their lives, with touches of leniency, humility, tenderness, mercy, and compassion.
They work to bear witness to God’s love in the world through educational commitment and care for the most vulnerable, especially those who are poor in body and spirit.
Regarding apostolic zeal, the founder saw in St. Dorothea the model that they should follow, which distinguishes them as teachers in every context of the mission, teachers in matters of life, committed to evangelization and comprehensive character formation, and with a keen sense and openness to social problems and human suffering, carrying hope, and at the same time being sisters to all, and mothers in selfless giving even unto sacrifice.
Our presence in every apostolic work is marked by lenience and strength.
The foundational gift (charism) calls us as Daughters of the Sacred Hearts to focus our attention specifically on girls, to become a force for a more humane society.
Our mission encompasses all social and cultural areas, aiming to serve humanity by responding to the needs of evangelism and love while respecting cultural, civilizational, and intellectual differences.
The Sisters of Saint Dorothy in Aleppo
The Sisters of Saint Dorothy arrived in Syria – Aleppo – Al-Midan in the year 1997 in response to the request of the Apostolic Vicar of the Latin Church, Armando Abertolazzo. He asked the Sisters to come to this particular area because of the lack of any other Congregation presence, entrusting them to care for the people and children of this region who were and still are living in harsh conditions of poverty and deprivation, with the hope that they would flourish spiritually, educationally, and culturally.
1. The work of the sisters in the field of education:
a. Providing Christian education for the children of the parish, along with an after-school strengthening program for the students.
b. Ensuring appropriate upbringing for women, including household management, handicrafts, sewing, cooking, and pastry arts.
c. Computer courses.
2. In the field of healthcare, including visits to the sick and needy in the parish.
3. Through spiritual upbringing and guidance, the movement of adoration and secular brotherhood was established.
Jesus Worker Convent 2002-2013
The Sisters of Saint Dorothy arrived in Syria – Aleppo, at the Jesus the Worker Convent in the university area in the year 2002, in response to the request of Bishop Joseph Nazaro, the Bishop of Aleppo, who desired to care for female students in the university dormitory and to nurture them in their human and spiritual growth, as well as to promote vocations in collaboration with the Salesian Fathers.
The sisters were forced to leave Aleppo in 2013, due to the war, especially when they lost a dear sister, Sister Rima Nasri, who was the only Syrian nun in the convent. She was lost in an explosion near the University of Aleppo upon her return from a visit to families.
The nuns have returned to Aleppo at the request of many who have repeatedly asked them to return to their empty convent. Despite their fears of the unsettled conditions and the difficult living circumstances, the nuns agreed to return in the summer of 2019 to Aleppo, Al-Midan to continue their mission and to honour the memory of their sister Rima Nasri by lifting prayers to God for the land that has been watered with much blood to flourish, with holy supplications. Their presence is to stand side by side with their Syrian brothers and sisters, to be a support and aid to them in the midst of the difficult circumstances they are facing, trusting in the divine care that never fails those who turn to it with confidence.
Our current mission in Al-Midan is to care for the upbringing of mothers and children, especially in the area of Christian formation for children and in healthcare, visiting and assisting the sick, and providing them with Communion
The services provided by the Congregation on the social level:
Educational services
Education for life! Education to give dignity to the individual before themselves and society.
The primary goal of our presence in the Church in any context is:
Comprehensive education and formation for everyone, especially for children, teenagers, and young people who are most vulnerable and weak due to poverty.
With renewed fidelity to the spirituality handed down to us by Saint John Antony Farina, we continue to work in educational and formational services with the awareness that our mission is transparent, wonderful, and important (see Apostolic Exhortation “Rejoice and Be Glad 5”).
Evangelization is the basic commitment we take on ourselves through the knowledge and culture we acquire from our life experiences; that is, to convey the Good News to everyone: that God loves every person uniquely and specially; that God comes to save us; that God is with us (see Apostolic Exhortation “Christ is Alive”).
Through our presence in schools, we work to:
• Collaborate with all teachers who share our Christian and spiritual values, as well as those of other religions.
• Welcome every child or young person in all aspects of their lives, and support their journey towards the future together.
• Nurture the human, social, and civic conscience for responsible and active citizenship regarding the creation and every person and in social commitment.
• Educate individuals to respect the creation, respect others, and live out social commitment.
• Care, respect, patience, and kindness are the fundamental attitudes that Saint John Antony required of all his teachers.
Love is the foundation and the summary of every educational work!
Healthcare
Saint John Antony Farina placed love and respect for the individual at the forefront of his holistic approach. Healthcare, both in the past and now, is an expression of God’s compassion towards suffering humanity, through accompanying the person in their weakest moments, and helping them to receive the passing of God through it.
“And as you look at the goodness of the body, you know how to take care of the soul as well” (from the writings of Saint John Antony Farina about love).
Caring for the sick is proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; it is staying beside those in pain, holding their hand, looking into their eyes, making them feel our closeness, listening to them, becoming companions on their journey, leaving behind everything that makes us feel secure, and creating relationships that make the patient feel accepted, understood, valued, respected, and trusted. Let us be that “presence” of Christ alongside human weakness.
Our sisters work in various centres for services for the elderly, hospitals, care homes, and are committed to home visits for those in need of care.
Healthcare also aims to help people accept pain, search for meaning in life, and face death through the proclamation of the Gospel.