The start of the Congregation of the Cellitinnen goes back to the Beguine movement which spread from about the 12th century onwards. Pious, single women founded lay communities for religious and practical reasons, and they lived together in so-called Beguine communities.
Beguine community "Unsere Liebe Frau" in Gent
In comparison to the religious orders, the Beguines took temporary vows and could thus leave the community again, take their property with them, possibly marry and live as free citizens. They also did not live a hidden life but spent their lives devoting themselves to nursing, education, the textile trade and also to washing the dead. In addition to these charitable services, their spiritual life was also of high value.
The church suspected the Beguine movement of being sect-like and of being open to esoteric ideas. This meant that the church increasingly pressurised the Beguines to become part of religious life in the church. As a result of this, many of those in nursing communities accepted the rule of St. Augustine.
In Cologne, the Beguines flourished particularly well. On becoming part of the church, the Beguines in the Diocese of Cologne called themselves Cellitinnen. The root of this name can no longer be traced today. As a result of their activity washing dead bodies, they are assumed to have been close to the Eremite community of the "Zell Brüder", who took care of the dead (cella grave: Middle High German "for digging a grave").
Beginen und Begarden, wikipedia.de
1838
Foundation of the Bürger Hospital. On 19th November, the Feast of St. Elisabeth, the Mother Superiors of the Cellinnen convent in Antonsgasse and Kupfergasse, Cologne, received a letter from the church authority asking them to send nurses to the Cologne Bürger Hospital. As a result, 4 sisters started working in the Cologne Bürger Hospital for the poor.
1864
St. Josefs Convent in Zündorf, renamed in 1974 to St. Martin Home for the Elderly
1869
Purchase of the house Severinstrasse 53 and foundation of mother house in Cologne.
1874
St. Augustine Hospital, known as Severinsklösterchen, Cologne
1882
St. Josef-Convent St. Vith, Belgium1882-1968
Many new social activities like nursing and welfare homes etc. are taken over in more than 40 houses in Cologne and the surrounding areas. There are as many as 1,300 sisters in the congregation.
1882–1968
Numerous new nursing and welfare task were taken on in more than 40 houses in Cologne and the area. There are as many as 1,200 sisters in the order.
1883
Convent Maria Hilf Bornheim, since 1988 Home for the Aged 'Maria Hilf'.
1888
Psychiatric Clinic, Marienborn, Convent Hoven
1891
Diocesan Seminary, Colgone
1894
Herz-Jesu Convent Königsdorf, since 1982 St. Augustine Home for the Aged
1905
St. Agatha Hospital Cologne-Niehl
1909
St. Antonius Hospital Cologne-Bayenthal
1917
Herz-Jesu Convent Nettersheim, since 1978 Haus Tannenblick
1918
Convent Heisterbach, Königswinter
1964
Spreading to India
1967
St. Augustine Hospital, Kumily / Kerala
1972
Nirmala Boarding, Sendhwa / M.P.
1977
St. Augustine Nivas, Bangalore/Karnataka
Elisabeth Sadan, Sendhwa / M.P.
1979
St. Josepf Convent,
Anavilasam, Kerala
Pushpa Nivas, Pendarnia / M.P.
1980
Karuna Hospital, Sendhwa / M.P.
1981
India becomes a region
1982
Augustine Bhavan, Amaravathi / A.P.
1983
St. Augustine Convent, Adackathode / Kerala
1988
150th anniversary,
Our Motto: "Just Be There"
1989
Augustine Sadan, Pedapadu / A.P.
1992
Keerthi Nilaya, Pansemal / M.P.
Mahila Vidyashram Vihar, Khandwa / M.P.
St. Augustine Convent, Punasa / M.P.
1993
Mahila Vidyashram Vihar, Khandwa / M.P.
St. Augustine Convent, Punasa / M.P.
1993-2001
Missionary activities in the Philippines
1994
Foundation of the German and Indian provinces
1997
St. Augustine Convent, Gurubasha / Assam
Haus Monika, Germany
1999
St. Augustine Hospital, Chapaguri / Assam
St. Augustine Convent, Kuttimoola / Kerala
2000
Handing over the administration to the 'Stiftung der Cellitinnen e.V.'
2002
The General administration is shifted to the convent in Heisterbach
2016
Transformation of the Germany Province into a region.
© Genossenschaft der Cellitinnen
