Through the Ages

In the beginning…

~1231 in Tournai (now in Belgium): The sisters welcome pilgrims ‘en route’ to Compostella. They live according to the Rule of St Augustine.

14th Century: care of the sick and destitute. The hospital chapel is consecrated to the apostle Andrew. As a result, the sisters become known as ‘the Sisters of St Andrew’.

Caring for the sick and destitute

17th Century: Reformation and Catholic Reformation. In 1611, the sisters choose monastic life, and begin to educate young women.

A book on Spirituality, written by Father Antoine Civoré for the Sisters of St Andrew

18th Century: 1795, the convent is closed following the French Revolution. The sisters continue an undercover community, desguised as a seamstress’ workshop.

Seraphine Hauvarlet, prioresse at the time of the French Revolution

19th Century: the congregation undergoes major restructuring. The constitutions of St Ignatius of Loyola are adopted in 1857. During this period, the sisters work primarily in schools for young women.

The congregation then expands towards other parts of Belgium, England and Jersey (1863), Brazil (1914), Congo (1923), France (Taizé, 1966) and South Korea (2018).

Think global, act local

Currently, we are present in 6 countries (Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgium, France, United Kingdom and South Korea). Our sisters come from 5 continents and 17 nationalities.


Saint Andrew’s in England


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