Religious order sees impressive growth

A religious order which started a decade ago with just eight sisters has now spread to four continents – making it one of the fastest growing religious movements of its kind.

Since their founding in 1998 in the Peruvian capital, Lima, the Servants of the Plan of God have set up new communities far and wide, giving them a presence in Africa, Asia and Europe as well as Latin America.

At a time of exponential growth, the sisters now number 130, of which 40 are novices. The average age of the sisters is just 25.

In an interview with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, the 29-year-old head of the spiritual formation, Sr Carolina Sanabria explained that the community’s popularity was down to their uncompromising proclamation of the Gospel and their very visible commitment to social action.

Sr Carolina, who joined the order in 2001, said: “The sisters are committed to announcing God to people through the lives they lead. They are faithful to God and to the Holy See.

“That is what drew me to the order and I am sure the same is true for many others.”

Speaking on a visit to ACN’s international headquarters in Germany, Sr Carolina paid tribute to the charity which has given key support to the community, funding new convents, supporting the sisters’ training needs and helping with transport costs.

“ACN has helped since the very beginning,” Sr Carolina explained. “We are extremely grateful for the support the charity has given – and especially the prayers of the benefactors.”

The charity has helped with building noviciate houses and developing other formation work, enabling the congregation to set up communities in Angola, the Philippines and a base for a few sisters in Rome.

Founded by a Peru-based lay missionary called Luis Fernando Figari, the Servants of the Plan of God work in healthcare – some sisters are nurses – education, catechesis and other faith organisations, as well as with the poor.

Sr Carolina stressed the importance of the habit they wear “as a sign of God’s presence”.

“Our growth as a community of sisters is because we have a lot of confidence in God," she said.

“It is not the case that young girls and women aren’t being called to be sisters.

“It’s more that people are not answering their call – they are not listening to the word of God and applying it to their lives.”

ACN Latin America projects’ chief Xavier Legorreta, who has travelled widely in Peru working with bishops and religious superiors, said: “The Servants of the Plan of God have grown very rapidly, which is remarkable at a time of huge difficulties for many religious communities.

“Their priority is faithfulness to the Church, loyalty to the Holy See and a willingness to preach the Gospel both in season and out of season. In that way they are very impressive.”