Daughters of Providence for the Deaf & Dumb

Founded, Date/Place | 1828 Modena Italy |
Founder | Don. Severino fabriani |
Canonical Status | 1845 by Gregory XVI |
Motto | Total Submission to the Will of God |
Charism | To uplift the burden of the less privilege especially the hearing/speech impaired |
Mission Statement | The primacy of God and total submission to his providence, diligent commitment to sanctity through the practice of theological virtues: a filial confidence in god and love of sacrifice |
Purpose | To educate, to instruct and to serve the deaf |

C/o Bishop's House,
P. O. Box 205,
Ogbe Ahiari, Ahiazu L.G.A.,
Imo State,
Mobile: 07032304408
Email: providence4deaf@gmail.com

Our Apostolate
Our history began in 1828 in Modena, Italy, when the Priest Rev. Fr.
Severino Fabriani inspired by God, founded the religious family of
the "Daughters of Providence" for the Deaf and Dumb with the
charism, mission, and heartfelt desire to renew 'Jesus' miracle in
which he "makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak" (Mark 7:37)
Won over by Jesus' love, the Daughters of Providence dedicate all
their energies to teaching, educating and serving the deaf and dumb
children to enable them to acquire the knowledge of God and live
actively as Christians in the society.
Don Severino Fabriani (1792-1849) was a priest of the diocese of
Modena, pioneer of the education and instruction of the deaf, and the
founder of the religious Institute of the Daughters of Providence. He
was a literary man, historian, philosopher, theologian, physicist,
lover of nature: man of profound culture but above all father of the
Deaf. With great trust in the Providence, he educated and instructed
them with love, and founded a religious family to take special care of
them. He left for his daughters a precious heritage of spiritual
journey towards holiness: the primacy of God and total submission
of his Providence; diligent commitment to sanctity through the
practice of theological virtues; a filial confidence in God and love of
sacrifice.
With a dynamic faith to the original charism and dedication to the
fourth vow: to educate, to instruct and to serve the Deaf, the
daughters of Don Severino Fabriani continue to work in Italy, Brazil,
Srilanka and in Ahiara Diocese (Nigeria).
Being faithful to the inspiration of the father founder, the sisters
dedicate themselves with a special vow to the instruction and
education of the deaf and mute, opening them to the knowledge of
God, helping them to be self reliant, well integrated and not to
constitute nuisance in the society, rescuing them from societal
marginalization and giving them the sense of belonging. The sisters
are working for their rehabilitation through specialized teachers
and specific technical apparatus, inserting them into the sociocultural
contest of the environment. They move in line with the
renovation, thereby promoting collaboration with the families of the
deaf students. They want to inculcate an authentic value, which is in
continuous conformation with the realities. They work for the total
human and Christian formation of the deaf.
Almost in all the areas where the sisters are located, they actualize a
project of integration between deaf and hearing students with the
objective of constructing a scholarly community where both groups
happily grow together.
The Congregation of the Daughters of Providence had been
evangelizing in Italy from 1828, Brazil (South America) since 1976 in
the city of Sao Paulo and in Palmas Tocantins. In Srilanka (Asia), since
1996 the sisters have been working in the city of Palangatura
(Colombo) and in Waikala. The Congregation is also working in
Nigeria in the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise. This began on 8th
November 2003, and the community now located at Obodo Ahiara
has a formation house, nursery and primary school and a dormitory
for the hearing impaired children.
Presently, the number of professed sisters in the Congregation in
Nigeria is twenty-five (25). And the number of Nigerians working
overseas is nine (9).
On Saturday 4th October, 2008 at Modena in Italy, the Diocesan
process of beatification and canonization of the father founder, and
Servant of God Fr. Severino Fabriani was held at the parish, St.
Dominic. The closing date was on the 24th of October 2009, and the
magazine; "A voice from Silence" was the product of that event. On
the 3rd of March, 2010 the "package" sent to Rome was opened at
Vatican City in "Aula Magna" of the Congregation for the Courses of
Saints.

Sisters in Perpetual Vows
- Sr. Celestine Oparajiaku
- Sr. Eunice Onyenze
- Sr. Scholastica Okolie
- Sr. Eucharia Njoku
- Sr. Ugochi Anyanwu
- Sr. Juliana Ogburie
- Sr. Angela Agawulem
- Sr. Lucy Egbukichi
- Sr. Lovina Ikeh
Number of Sisters in Temporary Vows – 13