The congregation was founded in 1853 by the Jesuit Fathers with the aim of educating females, as women’s education was considered a novelty at that time. The life of the congregation was apostolic. It was the first congregation in the East to engage with society to combine contemplative and apostolic forms. Since then, the congregation has been striving to open schools or classrooms for teaching to spread knowledge and education for women. The main goal of the apostolic congregation was to counter the Protestant attack on the East to preserve the Catholic faith.

The spirit of the congregation was characterized by Gospel contemplation, reliance on the Bible, and comprehensive openness. They began to engage in all activities (educational, health, social, and pastoral), prioritizing assistance to those in need and neglected areas.

The congregation was present in many villages in Tartous, such as the villages of Jnaint-Reslan and Al-Teffaha, which were not well known at the time. In the countryside of Damascus, they were in Maaloula, Sednayah, Al-Nabk, Yabrud, and also in Sadad in Daraa. The apostolic congregation in Syria started in Damascus in 1868, and in 1930, the Tartous Monastery and School were established, preceded by the opening of the Safita Convent in 1925.

There was a long period between the establishment and work in Tartous, where the congregation used to travel before that. What stood out was the request from the dignitaries of Jnaint-Reslan at that time for the congregation to open a monastery in Tartous due to people’s need for it. This led to the opening of the monastery next to the historic Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, which later became a museum after being affected by historical transformations and attacks. A school for girls from Tartous and some suburbs like Al-Khreibat and Dahr Safra was opened at the monastery. An internal section was also established for girls coming from villages to stay on weekdays instead of traveling.

The monastery worked on raising awareness, cultural development, and enhancing abilities and skills in areas like music, arts, and home economics. Back then, the modest headquarters expanded with time, and some rooms were used for teaching and accommodation at the same time. The monastery opened its doors as a residential college for girls pursuing studies beyond high school until the 1980s. Classes were also opened for the elementary and middle school stage; it was a period which could be described as the golden age. Before the opening of high school, in 1967 it was seized, leaving a small part of the property that was originally there for the monastery. In the seized section, the famous private Jerusalem Kindergarten was established, followed later by the government-owned Al-Khansa’ Elementary School.

Education and Teaching:

The Sisters sought to instill values and ethics in the students’ souls and teach them that God is with them and sees them at all times. The monastery produced many distinguished girls – nurses, workers, teachers, or great mothers who valued themselves, respected others, helped and cared for their families.

At the same time, the monastery provided many services to the poor, needy, and sick through visits to villages to check and assist people on weekends. The Sisters also worked in several hospitals in Tartous, Al-Qadmus, and Latakia, combining academic, social, and health work with sacred apostolic work. At the monastery school, theoretical and practical lessons were given, teaching languages mastered by many Sisters, as well as teaching piano, sewing, and other skills.

With the beginning of the events in 2011, the Sisters shifted to social work to help children who dropped out of school. The monastery continued its continuous reading of the community’s needs on the relief level to assist the most vulnerable groups, attempting to support migrants and survivors, and up to the earthquake survivors currently.

Preschool:

The Sacred Hearts preschool competes with many of the newest and best-equipped preschools to date, for several essential reasons including safety and trust in the good management of the Sisters and their care for the children on one hand, and the modest fees up to this moment compared to all other preschools.

With the decline of the monastery’s role due to some historical events, the Sisters had to remain open to the community and humanitarian service. Therefore, the opening of the preschool came as a project aimed at supporting families and working mothers, while also providing some compensation to help the Sisters in their livelihood. A floor of the monastery was allocated as a preschool with 8 rooms that accommodate around 90 boys and girls from 8 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.

The floor above is also used for the accommodation of the 4 Sisters currently residing there, while several specialized teachers work with them in the preschool. Some Sisters also give private French lessons for those interested, and for very nominal fees.

Sister Mary, who came from Damascus to the Monastery of the Sacred Hearts in Tartus in 2021, mentioned that establishing exemplary educational institutions today requires greater resources that are currently not available to them. However, within the available resources, the Sisters continue to work with love to serve others and to instill the seeds of ethics and virtue, considering ethics as the foundation for building a healthy society and improving it in the face of the current challenges. We continue to pray with humble hearts in these blessed days for peace and prosperity to prevail in the hearts and lands of our beloved and precious country.

Presence of the Sisters in Syria

City of Hama (4 Sisters):

• Monastery in the city – City neighbourhood
• School with 600 children from kindergarten to sixth grade, providing Christian formation in the village of Kafr Buhum

City of Homs (6 Sisters):

• Al-Diwan Garden Convent – Al-Diwan Garden neighbourhood – (3 Sisters)
• Mustard seed Centre for children with special needs, with 125 children.
• Engineering office for house renovation with 17 volunteers.
• Medical office with 12 volunteers.
• Christian formation and brotherhood in the parishes.
• Evangelical centre for the elderly affiliated with the Presbyterian Church – Bab As-Siba’ neighbourhood – (2 Sisters) management and supervision.
• Al-Mukhalles (Saviour) Jesuit Monastery, affiliated with the Jesuit Fathers – Al-Adawaia neighbourhood – (1 Sister) providing Christian formation from first grade to university level.
• Youth and family accompaniment.
• Women’s brotherhoods.

City of Safita (2 Sisters):

• Safita Convent
• Kindergarten
• Christian formation

City of Tartus (5 Sisters):

• Tartus Convent – Menashiya neighbourhood.
• Kindergarten
• Christian formation
• Social work
• Psychosocial support
• Livelihood work
• Relief work

Kafroun Monastery – affiliated with Tartus Monastery:

• Christian formation
• Service for the elderly

City of Damascus (2 Sisters):

• Damascus Convent – Bab Touma neighbourhood – Boolad street
• Residence for female university students
• Youth education for service to the elderly, and social work – Jaramana.
• Psychosocial support and livelihood work.

Relief work and a centre for physical therapy and vocational training – Jaramana.