Our Founders

Our Founders: In the middle of the XIX century, Portugal witnessed such a living Bible, in the persons of Fr. Raimundo dos Anjos Beirao and Mother Maria Clara of the Child Jesus. At this time of the history, in Portugal, as in the whole of Europe, everything was in a process of industrialization. The poor and the marginalized became a source of cheap labour, who are exploited and sacrificed unscrupulously, by the rich and the powerful. There was a constant increase in the socially challenged people; victims of sickness and epidemics, alcohol, illiteracy and moral degradation. The merciful and providential glance of God, looked at the misery of the Portuguese people and His Spirit ignited the hearts of Fr. Beirao and Mother Clara with the mercy and compassion of the Heart of Christ. Mother Clara. Born in Portugal, on 15th June, 1843, to Nuno Thomas and Maria da Purificacao, who were of noble lineage, she was baptized as Libania. Her early childhood years were happy ones, in the gentle ambience of a happy family, with the union among her parents and brothers and sisters. Yet a child, she knew what was pain and sorrow. The epidemic that spread through Lisbon enters their palace as well and snatches away her mother. It was her father Nuno Thomas, who guided her in her adolescence and helped her to cultivate superior values of the Gospel. A new epidemic, once again ravaged the country and Nuno Thomas and other relatives also succumbed to this disease. Libania, then joined the boarding, opened by the king, in his palace of Ajuda, for the orphans of the noble families. It is here the sisters, belonging to the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, of French origin, helped her to get healed of the wounds and to prepare herself to face the ups and downs of life. Five years of study, reflection, work and prayer forged her rich personality. But in 1862, the sisters, her Educators are expulsed from Portugal by the Government. She was invited by the Marchioness of Valada, great friends of her parents to live in the palace. “The youthfulness spent in the splendor of luxury, surrendered to the frivolous pleasures of the world…” did not satisfy her well formed heart. It is this restlessness that leads her to the tranquility of the Convent of St. Patricio, where lived the Religious – Capuchinas of our Lady of the Conception. It is there, she met Fr. Beirao, and opened her heart. His advice enlightened her path and she broke off from every tie and consecrated herself to God in the service of the needy. Fr. Beirao. 8th March, 1810, precisely thirty years before Libania, Raimundo Maria Ferriera da silva Beirao was born in Lisbon, Portugal. Born and brought up in pious Catholic family, he was touched by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and became a Franciscan Third Order Regular priest. But soon he found himself harassed by an anticlerical persecution and expelled from the Friary. Secretly, as and when possible, he continued exercising his priestly ministry; his ardor and apostolic zeal do not allow him to be discouraged in the face of obstacles. Even at the risk of his life, he is present where he feels his word and his alms would be beneficial. When the fury of the persecutors seemed to have calmed, he traveled throughout the country, preaching the Gospel and exercising charity. Communicating the love of God is the work of his life. Whatever money he received during his preaching ministry, he would give away immediately to the poor. He did not hesitate to ask for alms in order to give to the next needy person. He was deeply moved by the sufferings of his people. His charity towards them was unlimited. however the need was so much and he could reach out only to a few. His generous heart and creative mind, dreamt of starting a religious congregation of sisters, who would be totally dedicated to the suffering multitudes, thus reaching out to the sick and poor people, down the centuries.