Our Origin

  • The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross was founded 168 years ago in Switzerland in 1856, on the tiny hill of Ingenbohl where our Mother house is. Fr. Theodosius Florentini OFM Cap our founder, and Blessed Mother Maria Theresa Scherer the co- foundress and the first Superior General, committed themselves to working together and alleviate the many kinds of human need under our Motto:   The need of the Time is the Will of God.
  • Since then, the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross are responding to the needs of the time in many parts of the world; 
  • Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, India, Brazil, Taiwan, USA, Russia, Uganda and Kenya. 
  • At present we are 3726 living sisters all over the world. 16200 Sisters have already gone before us interceding for us. 
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Bl. Ulrika
Bl. Ulrika Nisch
  • Beginning in Uganda

  • The seed of our Mission in Uganda was sown on the soil on 6th October 1994. The centenary celebration in India marked the missioning of four sisters; Amala Kunnath (Nakakaawa), Sr. Veera Bara (Nasuuna), Sr. Louisa Thomas (Nakiwala), Sr. Claudia Kerketta (Bukirwa), to spread the love of Christ far and wide. Msgr. Expedito Magembe was instrumental in bringing the Ulrika Sisters to Kiziba Parish. The sisters with pioneering spirit were welcomed by all the parishioners. The initial days were spent in learning the local language and the culture of the place. This equipped them to enter into the lives of the people. Ugandan girls joined the sisters and shared in their mission. Formation was the initial step that the sisters were engaged in together with the other apostolates that included teaching in the school, Nursing and socio pastoral care. Slowly the number of sisters increased and so also number of communities as we were invited to serve in different places.

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Bl. Ulrika
Bl. Ulrika Nisch

Today we are in eight communities of five dioceses of Uganda and Kenya- they are Kiziba, Namugongo and Kitakyusa in Kampala Archdiocese.

Present Times

Busunju in Kiyinda Diocese, Kikyusa in Kasana- Luweero diocese, Osia in Tororo Archdiocese, Kempara in Mbarara Archdiocese and Bulimbo in Kakamega Diocese in Kenya.

Apostolates

Our Partners

  • The Sisters of the Vicariate are engaged in;

    Nursing – Two health Centre of our own and two belonging to the Diocese.

    Education -We have four Nursery schools, four Primary Schools (one of them belonging to the Diocese), One Secondary School and One Vocational Training Institute

    Socio Pastoral apostolate, a Fabric Designing enterprise, Poultry and animal rearing, farming and Formation.

  • We work in collaboration with the Government and other organizations. Sisters are being sent to different Institutions for training and higher studies according to the need of the Vicariate so that they are enabled to continue serving in our Institutions.

    The total number of sisters is 74- Seven Indian Sisters and 64 African sisters. Novices in the first year – 4, and candidates- 5 and 3 pre-postulants.

Sisters