Biography of the Founder: Monsignor Stanislaus Ambrozin
Early Life and Spiritual Formation
Monsignor Stanislaus Ambrozin, the visionary founder of the Congregation of St. Gemma Sisters of Dodoma, was a deeply committed Catholic priest and a member of the Passionist Order. His early life and spiritual formation were marked by a profound devotion to the Passion of Christ, a central tenet of Passionist spirituality. This devotion profoundly influenced his life and ministry, shaping his vision of self-sacrifice, compassion, and service to the most vulnerable.
Inspiration and Vision
Monsignor Ambrosin was inspired by the life and spirituality of St. Gemma Galgani, an Italian mystic and Passionist tertiary known for her intense love for the Crucified Christ and her deep experiences of suffering and mystical phenomena, including the stigmata. St. Gemma’s life exemplified an extraordinary union with Christ’s Passion, which resonated deeply with Monsignor Ambrozin’s own spiritual jour
Moved by St. Gemma’s example, Monsignor Ambrozin envisioned a religious community that would embody the charism of mercy and suffering, living out the Gospel through acts of love, compassion, and service. His vision was to create a congregation dedicated to caring for the poor, the sick, and the marginalised, thus reflecting the love of Christ Crucified in the world
Founding of the Congregation
In 1938, Monsignor Ambrozin arrived in Kondoa, a village in the Dodoma Region of Tanzania, where he began his mission work. Recognizing the need for a dedicated religious community to serve the spiritual and material needs of the people, he laid the foundations for what would become the Congregation of St. Gemma Sisters. With the support of three Sisters of Mercy from Verona, Italy, he established the first house of the nascent community in Kondoa.
On September 14, 1947, the congregation was officially founded when five young women took their religious vows, marking the beginning of a new religious community under the patronage of St. Gemma Galgani. Monsignor Ambrozin’s guidance and the charisma he imparted to the sisters—rooted in mercy, suffering, and a deep love for Christ—became the cornerstone of the congregation’s identity and mission.
Spirituality and Charism
Monsignor Ambrosin infused the congregation with a spirituality deeply anchored in the Passionist tradition. The charisma he imparted to the Sisters of St. Gemma revolved around two central pillars:
Mercy and Compassion: Inspired by the merciful heart of Christ and the compassionate example of St. Gemma, the congregation was called to serve those who suffer, particularly the poor, the sick, and the marginalised. This spirit of mercy and compassion became the driving force behind their various apostolates, including healthcare, education, and social services.
Union with the Suffering Christ: The congregation was also deeply rooted in the spirituality of the Passion, emphasising a close union with the suffering Christ. Monsignor Ambrozin encouraged the sisters to embrace their own sufferings and trials as a means of participating in Christ’s redemptive work, offering their lives as a testimony to the transformative power of love and sacrifice.
Monsignor Ambrozin’s legacy is the thriving Congregation of St. Gemma Sisters, which has grown from its humble beginnings to a vibrant community of over 300 sisters. His vision of a religious community dedicated to living out the Gospel through acts of mercy and compassion continues to inspire the sisters as they carry out their mission in Tanzania and beyond.
Though Monsignor Ambrozin passed away just four years after the congregation’s founding, his spirit and the charism he imparted to the sisters remain alive in their continued dedication to serving Christ in the poor and suffering. His life’s work, inspired by the example of St. Gemma Galgani, has left an indelible mark on the church in Tanzania and continues to bear fruit through the ongoing mission of the Congregation of St. Gemma Sisters.