Patroness: St. Ann

St. Ann, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Congregation is placed under the loving protection of St. Ann, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, honoured as a model of mothers and educators.

Although the Canonical Gospels do not speak of her, ancient traditions preserved in the Protoevangelium of James and other apocryphal writings tell us about Ann and her husband Joachim. Her name, derived from the Hebrew Hannah, means grace.

Jesus Himself said, “A tree is known by its fruit” (Mt 12:33). The fruit of this holy mother is the Virgin Mary, preserved from sin and chosen to be the Mother of God. From Mary’s holiness, we recognize the greatness of her parents, Joachim and Ann.

Devotion to St. Ann began in the East as early as the 6th century, when Emperor Justinian built a Church in her honour in Constantinople. By the 10th century, her veneration had spread throughout the West, especially in Northern Europe. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII extended the feast of St. Ann to the whole Church. After the reforms of Vatican II, the Church celebrates Saints Joachim and Ann together on July 26, honouring them as the saintly grandparents of Jesus.

St. Ann is considered Patroness of grandmothers, mothers, expectant women, educators and various trades. She is remembered as a woman of faith, a guardian of hope, and a mother full of love—who gave to the world her masterpiece, Mary.

For us, Sisters of St. Ann, she is not only our model but also our guide in mission. To her we entrust our task of accompanying new generations in their growth toward true happiness, so that humanity may once again shine with the image of God.

In a special way, the Province of Northern India is placed under her care and is known as the Province of St. Ann, drawing inspiration daily from her maternal protection and example.