The Medical Mission Sisters of the North India Unit and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Patna Province, marked 25 years of collaboration in the healing ministry at Kurji Holy Family Hospital in Patna on April 24, 2025. The event recognized a major milestone for the Church in Bihar, India.
The two groups of women religious, along with hospital staff and collaborators, celebrated their long-standing partnership built on a shared commitment to service and collaborative leadership. With a vision rooted in unity and purpose, the Sisters worked together to strengthen health care delivery in the region.
History of Collaboration
The partnership began taking shape in 1939 when Kurji Holy Family Hospital was founded by Mother (Dr.) Anna Dengel, foundress of the Medical Mission Sisters. The hospital moved to its current location in Kurji in 1958. Influenced by the changes following Vatican II, the Medical Mission Sisters were called to expand their service beyond institutional work, opening the door to new forms of collaboration.
By the mid-1990s, leaders from the Medical Mission Sisters began seeking a partner to share responsibilities at the hospital. During the 1997 Annual Regional Conference of Religious India Major Superiors, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth responded positively. What followed was a process of dialogue, discernment, and planning involving both canon and civil consultations.
A Formal Commitment
On May 27, 2000, in the presence of Archbishop Benedict Osta, SJ, the Medical Mission Sisters and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement outlined a new model of inter-congregational partnership that focused on shared responsibility and governance.
Reflecting on the partnership, Sister Manju Ekka, provincial of the Medical Mission Sisters, said, “As we celebrate this 25-year milestone in the Church of India, particularly in Bihar, we do so with gratitude and prayer.” She noted that the shared leadership at the hospital began years before synodality became a priority of the global Church.
Building a Model for Mission
Following the example of their foundresses—Mother Dengel and Mother Catherine Spalding—the Sisters created new structures to promote shared leadership and regular evaluation. The hospital’s mission and philosophy were revised to reflect the charisms of both Congregations. Core values were identified as compassion, honesty, excellence, spirituality, and teamwork.
Support from Congregational leadership helped solidify this partnership through clear processes and effective structures. Sister Latika, SCN Provincial, said, “Through every step of this journey, our unity and love for the mission has brought life to Kurji Holy Family Hospital.”
A Shared Commitment
In 2005, the partnership was formalized as a co-equal sponsorship. Neither Congregation claimed ownership. Both stood as equal partners in Christ’s healing mission. This shift required shared decision-making, trust, and a willingness to adapt.
One collaborator compared the partnership to a marriage, requiring daily effort, shared responsibility, and openness. The partnership at Kurji Holy Family Hospital continues to call for cooperation and reflection from all those involved in the ministry.
Continuing the Journey
Sister Rowena Miranda, a member of the Medical Mission Sisters General Council, spoke on behalf of Sister Agnes Lanfermann, MMS superior general. She said, “Over two and a half decades, you have responded creatively and courageously to the signs of the times, working in teams with people from diverse backgrounds, encouraging growth in communion and participation.”
Today, Kurji Holy Family Hospital is a 300-bed facility offering curative and preventive services. It continues to promote holistic care and outreach while incorporating advances in medical practice.
Looking Ahead
The partnership between the Medical Mission Sisters and the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is more than administrative. It represents a shared call to unity and service. In the words of their foundresses: “We must have the courage to do things differently if we are to truly serve the suffering” (Mother Dengel), and “Let us always remember that we are instruments in the hands of God, called to serve where the need is greatest” (Mother Spalding).
Sister Jackulin Jesu, SCN superior general, reflected that this legacy is not just a historical account but a call to present and future action. “These women religious did not merely respond to the times; they anticipated them,” she said.
As the two Congregations celebrate 25 years of partnership in mission, they continue the journey as pilgrims of hope, committed to shared responsibility and service in a changing world.
Medical Mission Sisters and Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Communicators