The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Servarum Spiritus Sancti de Adoratione Perpetua), also known as the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, were founded 1896 in the Netherlands by Saint Arnold Janssen, a German Catholic priest who had founded the Society of the Divine Word in 1875 and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in 1889. Janssen was canonized by Pope Paul II in 2003. The Adoration Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious institute of contemplative cloistered nuns. The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters were to be a powerhouse of prayer behind the active missionaries, since Janssen understood the power of prayer. Since the founding of the Missionary Sisters, there had been those who wished to dedicate themselves to active missionary service, as well as those who wanted to serve the missions from behind the doors of an enclosed convent. The nuns of the Adoration Sisters live a contemplative life, focused on perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, offering intercessory prayers for the world and for those on the mission field. At first, the cloistered Sisters lived in a separate wing of the Mission Sisters' Sacred Heart Convent, and carried the same name as the Missionary Sisters - Servants of the Holy Spirit. By 1914, the Bishop had agreed that the Adoration Sisters should become an autonomous congregation, with their own Motherhouse, Holy Spirit Convent. Within the cloister, the nuns wear rose-colored habits in honor of the Holy Spirit. They are sometimes known as the Pink Sisters because of the color of their habits. The congregaton's first house abroad was in Pennsylvania, established by Mother Mary Michael (born Adolfine Tönnies) in 1915. Currently, the congregation has twenty-two houses in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, India, Indonesia, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Slovakia, Togo, and the United States. Before the communists took over, there was a foundation of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters in China.
Recommended Resources
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters Convent of Divine Love
Founded in Steyl, Holland by Saint Arnold Janssen in 1896, the Adoration Sisters, the Adoration Sisters founded their first convent after the Motherhouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1915, and nine Sisters were sent from Steyl to the Convent of Divine Love that year. A history of the Adoration Sisters, their founders, and saints among their number are put forth, and photos of the chapel are included.
https://adorationsisters.org/
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters Mount Grace Convent
Situated in Saint Louis, Missouri, Mount Grace Convent is a cloistered contemplative missionary Congregation, living in community, whose members are dedicated to the contemplative life in the service of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A history of the convent in Saint Louis, and of the Adoration Sisters, is presented, with a photo gallery, vocational information, and a newsletter.
http://www.mountgraceconvent.org/
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, Bangalore
The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters are cloistered contemplative nuns whose lives revolve around the Eucharistic Lord. With the Holy Spirit as their guide, they live under the permanent enclosure with the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. The Adoration Sisters were founded in Germany in 1896, later spreading to several countries. An overview of their daily life is given, and information about becoming a member of the Adoration Sisters is included.
http://holyspiritadorationsistersbangalore.org/
Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration
Representing the Motherhouse, Holy Spirit Convent, in Steyl, Netherlands, the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration are also known as the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters or, for the color of their habit, the Pink Sisters. The history, spirituality, and community life of the Sisters are discussed, and photos of the convent and chapel are presented. Other resources include video and a directory of convents worldwide.
http://www.sspsap-motherhouse.nl
Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, Philippines
A directory of Houses of the Adoration Sisters in the Philippines is featured, including Baguio City, Quezon City, Mandaue City, Davao City, Aklan, and Tagaytay City, with photos and contacts. Other resources include profiles of the founders of the Adoration City, an overview of the spirituality of the Sisters, and an account of a representative day in the cloister. A liturgical service schedule is posted to the site, for each of its Houses.
http://www.pinksisterstagaytay.com/
