Who we are

Who are the Handmaids?
Mission Statement Vision Statement

Handmaids gathered in summer renewal

We are Roman Catholic women of all ages, races, and cultural backgrounds. In the USA province, we have Sisters of Spanish, American, Peruvian, Chilean, Cuban, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Argentine, Chinese, Colombian, and Irish upbringing and heritage.

We find this unique mix is a beautiful representation of God's kingdom and helps us to be the bridge-builders and reconcilers we long to be.

We have been drawn together by a common spirituality, to give our lives completely to Jesus Christ and His people.

We find a mentor in our foundress, St. Rafaela Maria Porras, who answered God's call generously and began our congregation. In 1877 she described the mission of the Handmaids as "true love for Jesus in the Eucharist and the desire of His Heart for the salvation of souls."

St. Rafaela being lifted into heaven

In the USA, the Handmaids attempt to live this out in our Wyncote, PA school; in our South Philadelphia convent; in our Haverford, PA retreat house; in our "Oasis" in Athens, GA; in our Atlanta, GA community; and in our Miami, FL convent. We are in many other parts of the world...24 nations and counting!

Today, as in the first days of our congregation, we strive to be true servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by being agents of Reconciliation. By His sacrifice, Jesus repaired the broken relationship between God and humankind. By our prayer and work, the sacrifice of our lives, we Handmaids cooperate with Jesus and do what we can to bring healing to a world in need.

As therapists, counselors, and educators, we work to bring healing to broken relationships between individuals.
As a diverse international congregation, we live among those we serve and work to bring healing to broken relationships between those of different economic classes, races, languages, and cultures.
As spiritual directors, catechists, and retreat directors, we help to repair the broken relationships between God and His children.

We are women of prayer, and we depend on our "daily bread" of Eucharist. We find the fuel for our ministry through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a rich community prayer life. At the same time, our ministry is "an encounter with God which transforms us into contemplatives in action." (Constitutions 9).