Mother Petra Dinadasi

Foundress of Dinasevansabha

St. Angela de Merici

The Patroness of our Congregation
Founderess of the Order of Ursulines

About Dinasevanasabha

The Congregation of Dinasevanasabha (Servants of the Poor) was founded by Sr. Petra Moennigmann, a German Ursuline Nun with eight members, in 1969 at a remote village Pattuvam, in the civil District of Kannur, Kerala, India. Mother Petra chose the name, ‘Dinasevanasabha’ for her Congregation to indicate that Dinadasi is one who is called to be the servant who follows Christ, the Servant. Mother Petra considered all works are precious and honorable, noble and dignified. She drew the spirit and the mission of her new Congregation from the Gospel,

“What you have done to the least of my brethren, you have done to me”.

(Mt 25:40)

Helping Hands

Mother Petra as an extra ordinary woman with clear vision and strong will came down from Kurusumala, the Tabore of her life. She travelled far and wide in Kerala, visited every nook and corner of the remote villages. She was deeply moved on the situations of the poor and she desired to become a Good Samaritan in their life. Even with the inner conflicts, confusion and struggles she continued her journey in search of a suitable soil to sow the seed of her mission. Many Bishop extended cordial welcome to begin her work in their dioceses. Mean while Mother Petra visited Bishop Aldo Maria Patroni, the Bishop of the Diocese of Calicut who directed her to Fr. Zucol, an Italian Jesuit Missionary working at Chirakal mission. There she came across the misery of the poor and the marginalized. Here she conceived the idea of social apostolate for the upliftment and the integral liberation of the poor and the downtrodden.