SECTOR OF Austria
Austria
Quick Contact
The Austria Sector of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes (SJT) was founded on 14th June 1999 in Frauenkirchen, nestled in the picturesque region of Burgenland.
The initial vision for starting this foundation was to support the establishment of a mission in Uganda through financial assistance.
The pioneering Sisters—Sr. James D’Souza, Sr. Marceline Ferrao, Sr. Lily E. D’Souza, and Sr. Jayarani Chinnaprakash—arrived in Frauenkirchen on 11th June, having made essential preparations to embark on the mission. Guided by the charism of Communion, they laid the foundation for a mission that has since grown steadily and borne much fruit within the Diocese of Eisenstadt.
Today, the Austria Sector is vibrant and dynamic, with 10 Sisters faithfully living out the charism and mission of Communion across three communities:
- Frauenkirchen – Established on 14th June 1999, this was the first SJT presence in Austria. It remains a strong center of prayer, service, and witness through the care of the sick and elderly, as well as pastoral care.
- Eisenstadt – Founded on 18th October 2007, this second community broadens our apostolic reach, particularly in the field of health care.
- Güssing – The youngest community, inaugurated on 14th March 2024, deepens our commitment to communion and compassionate service, especially in health care and pastoral ministry.
Each of these communities embodies the SJT spirit, witnessing to Communion through a variety of apostolates, including:
- Health Care
- Care of the Physically and Mentally Challenged
- Pastoral Care
- Faith Education
- Social Outreach: Responding to emerging needs, such as assisting migrants and supporting families in crisis
The Sector headquarters is located in Frauenkirchen, at Kirchenplatz 2, A-7132.
With hearts full of gratitude, the Sector celebrated 25 years of SJT presence in Austria—a journey marked by deep faith, loving service, and communion with the people we are privileged to serve.
Lay Associates – Sharing in Our Mission: Since 2017, lay women have been welcomed as SJT Lay Associates, joining us in prayer, ministry, and in living out our charism of Communion in their daily lives. Today, we are blessed with 25 Lay Associates, who form a cherished and committed part of our extended SJT family.
Together, Sisters and Lay Associates continue to be signs of hope, communion, and compassion at the heart of the Church and society.
The Sisters of the Sector rejoice in witnessing the vibrant growth of the SJT mission in Uganda, which began in 2002 with the support of our Sector. It has now blossomed into seven thriving communities. We give praise to God, the source and sustained of all Mission, who continues His work in and through the SJT family.