DINA SEVA SABHA (DSS) CONGREGATION
The Congregation was founded exclusively for the upliftment and the liberation of the Poor. The Charism of the Congregation is “Upliftment of the Poor” and the Motto is “Service in Charity and Poverty”. The prime focus of our apostolate is the poor, marginalized and downtrodden in the society. The members of the community lead a very simple life and dedicate their human and material resources for the integral growth and the well being of the poor with a special focus on women, children and destitute.
Dina sevana sabha is a Catholic Association for upliftment of the poor has been Registered under the Societies Registration Act XX1 of 1860 S. No. 43 of 1970 and also is a society registered under Section 12 A of Income – Tax Act, 1961 0n 15th March, 1978.
Dina sevana sabha (DSS) started as a pious union in the diocese of Calicut with the approval and the blessing of the then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. Dr. Aldo Maria Patroni S.J., it was raised to the status of a diocesan Congregation on 21st September 1983 by His Excellency. Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Noronha, the then Bishop of Calicut. It was raised to the status of Pontifical Right on 2nd February 2003.
Emblem
The emblem depicts well with the spirit of our Congregation. The letters DSS is the abbreviation of the Congregation Dina sevana sabha and S C P (Service in Charity and Poverty) constitutes the pillars of the Congregation and summarize the nature of our Charism. Folded hands and Cross stands for constant prayer from where we get energy to accept the daily cross that comes to our life when we live our Charism. Through constant prayer and suffering we aim at self sacrifice. No crown without cross. Diya, stands for the mother earth.
Helping Hands
Mother Petra as an extra ordinary woman with clear vision and strong will came down from Kurusumala, the Tabore of her life. Kurusumala remained a kind of a spiritual home land and heaven of refuge for her. She was profoundly influenced and inspired by the ascetic life of Fr. Francis Achariya and his successor Fr. Bede Griffths. She opened her heart and revealed herself to Fr. Bede. As he could discern the guiding spirit in her, he told “Sr. Petra, I must tell you, an extra ordinary divine providence is guiding you”. It was here, that Mother Petra discerned her true vocation certainly by Divine as well as human intervention. She travelled far and wide in Kerala, visited every nook and corner of the remote villages. She was deeply moved on the situations of the poor and she desired to become a Good Samaritan in their life. Even with the inner conflicts, confusion and struggles she continued her journey in search of a suitable soil to sow the seed of her mission. Many Bishop extended cordial welcome to begin her work in their dioceses. Mean while Mother Petra visited Bishop Aldo Maria Patroni, the Bishop of the Diocese of Calicut who directed her to Fr. Zucol, an Italian Jesuit Missionary working at Chirakal mission. There she came across the misery of the poor and the marginalized. Here she conceived the idea of social apostolate for the upliftment and the integral liberation of the poor and the downtrodden.
DSS TODAY
During the last four decades, the Congregation has grown and developed in every direction of its Charism, Spirituality, Apostolic services, Formation and Administration. In 1999 the Congregation was divided into three regions and on 1st June 2007 the regions were transformed into three provinces and one vice province. Today, the Congregation has 585 members. We extend our services in 99 convents in 55 Dioceses belonging to the Latin, Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara Rites of the Catholic Church spread out in India, Italy, America and in Germany. When we look back to the life of the Congregation, we can only thank God for His marvelous works which was purely for upliftment of the poor and needy performed through the members in various parts of the country..
Our Strength
