Rev. Sr. Josephine Vannini, the Foundress of the Congregation of Daughters of St. Camillus was canonized on October 13, 2019 by Pope Francis.
Judith Vannini was born in Rome, on July 7, 1859 to Angelo Vannini and Annunziata Papi. She became an orphan at the age of seven and was given shelter in the conservatorio Torlonia, run by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent at Sienna. Following her desire to dedicate herself to God, she entered the novitiate of the Daughters of Charity in Sienna - Italy, but was forced to leave due to poor health. The providential encounter with Fr. Luigi Tezza, a Camillian Priest, during the course of a retreat in 1891 opened for her the way to discern the will of God, making herself available to embrace the new form of religious life which he had in mind. Fr. Tezza discovered in Judith the abilities of the Foundress. Sure of herself; a woman of prayer and of sacrifice; obedient and docile to the councils; it was not difficult for him to choose her as the co-foundress of the new Order.
Thus on February 2, 1892 she and two of her companions were clothed with the scapular which bore a red cross, marking the beginning of the Congregation of Daughters of St. Camillus.
On March 19, 1893, she made her Temporary Religious Consecration and on December 8, 1895 she consecrated herself totally to the Lord.
The plan of our Founder Fr. Tezza, was to set up a female Congregation with the same charism of his Order which “expresses itself and is realized in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy towards the sick,” practised with a vow “even at the risk of one’s own life,” and it is the fourth vow of the Congregation. The healing activity of Jesus for the sick occupies a very large and essential part in the Gospel and it becomes a great sign of the salvific mission of Jesus, the Messiah. Our mission is inseparably united with the Redemptive mission of Christ.
“Cure the sick, save the souls” is the motto of our Congregation. In response to our special charism we recognize the Crucified Christ in the sick and in the person who suffers. “In this presence of Christ among the sick and in us, who serve in His name we find the basis of our spirituality.”
The Congregation was expanded within a short period of time, not only with the new foundations, but also with a number of the Religious. Mother Josephine Vannini expired on February 23, 1911 and was Beatified on October 16, 1994 and Canonized on October 13.
Now the Congregation of Daughters of St. Camillus is an international Congregation spread all over the world. Our Presence in Sri Lanka since 2004 onwards is, at: 46/5A, Puwakwatte Road, Nayakakanda, Hendala, Wattala.