Empowering communities through outreach and education.
About Us
Foundress
Blessed Maria Schininà was born on April 10, 1844, in Ragusa, Sicily, Italy.
She devoted her life to serving the poor and the sick and later founded the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Ragusa).
She died on June 11, 1910, in Ragusa.
She was beatified on November 4, 1990, by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Foundations
The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa are a Pontifical Religious Congregation founded on May 9, 1889, in Ragusa, Sicily, by Blessed Maria Schininà. Moved by a profound openness to God’s call and guided by a unique gift of the Holy Spirit, she embraced a life dedicated to serving others with preferential attention to those most in need.
The spiritual foundation of the Institute is rooted in the three Evangelical Counsels:
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Poverty — a voluntary detachment that frees the heart for generous service
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Chastity — purity of intention and action, lived as a sign of total love for God
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Obedience — a humble submission of one’s will in faith and trust
Through these vows, the sisters continue Blessed Maria Schininà’s mission: to make the compassionate love of the Sacred Heart visible through concrete acts of service, especially where suffering, poverty, or abandonment are present.
Mission
The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa carry out their mission through the Charism of Preferential Loving Service to the needy—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In every dimension of human neediness, we are called to participate in God’s own loving‑kindness, offering ourselves with total, conscientious self‑giving. Our service flows from an integrated spiritual framework shaped by three inseparable cardinal points:
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Prayer — the source of our strength and discernment
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Action — the concrete expression of compassionate love
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Presence — the ministry of accompaniment that reflects Christ’s nearness
Rooted in this dynamic harmony of prayer, action, and presence, we seek to reveal the tenderness of the Sacred Heart and to be instruments of hope, dignity, and healing wherever the Lord sends us.
Mission Statement:
Called to a spiritual framework that harmonizes deep inner life with outward, creative, and compassionate service.
Called to a spiritual framework that balances inner life with outward creative engagement, we nurture children to grow with faith, compassion, curiosity, and confidence as they discover their gifts and share them with the world. We vibe to make God’s mercy visible through acts of service, education, and accompaniment, fostering dignity, hope, and spiritual renewal in every person we encounter.
Global Presence
The SCGR Sisters are present in the major cardinal regions of the world—Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America—embracing all people through a spiritual framework that harmonizes deep inner life with outward, creative, and compassionate service.