On January 18, 2026 the entire Holy Union family gathered from different Countries – 126 connection points, all communities together with friends and associates – to celebrate this eventful day in the congregation's history: the first profession of religious vows 183 years ago. It was also an occasion to renew today's commitment, returning to the roots to rediscover the fire, courage, and trust that gave birth to Holy Union.
"Until there were professed sisters, we were not a Holy Union Congregation", shares Sr. Carol Regan, joining from the US and chairing the conversation. "Although there were communities of women who lived as one, and our rule had been approved by the Bishop of Cambrai. But when vows were professed, the congregation came into being. And so today is our birthday, our Pentecost. As far as we know, we're the first Holy Union sisters to mark this day. That means we're not only marking history, we're also making history".
This global gathering celebrated "the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds and embraces us", continues Sr. Carol. "Some of these witnesses are from our earliest days: Lucie, Josephine, Eléonore, and their companions. Also, the nearly 40 women who were the first to dare to profess religious vows in this congregation we are today. But other witnesses are sitting right next to you, or you can see them on your computer screens. They're the Holy Union women we meet every day, the ones we live with, work with, are in touch with, play with, pray with".
Praying together with the great cloud of witnesses
One powerful moment was the recitation of the "Litanies", naming the 40 women who professed vows in 1843. The gathering also honored today's witnesses: two Holy Union sisters preparing for their perpetual profession, and sisters celebrating significant jubilees in this bicentenary season.
"At the Beginning", a booklet by Sr. Carol Regan
After retiring from active external ministry in early 2018, Sr. Carol began researching in the U.S. archives, where she discovered a series of early 20th-century booklets about early Holy Union women, written in French and never translated. Invited to Cameroon in summer 2018 to work with sisters on their history and charism, she shared presentations on six early Holy Union women. Upon returning, she was called to province service, putting her dream of writing about Father De Brabant on hold. In 2024, she went to Tanzania with her stories and has now compiled them for everyone.
"I loved learning about the six women whose stories you now have. These stories raised a lot of questions for me and gave me lots of new insights", shares Sr. Carol. The lively dialogue showed deep interest and gratitude for rediscovering their roots and casting new light on today's mission.
Witnesses of our days - Voices of the Bicentenary
The common thread is continuing to be women of faith, as the "early women" were. The Bicentenary Planning Group sponsored an international conversation with sisters celebrating their perpetual vows and jubilees. In sacred sharing, the sisters spoke of their vocation journeys, the joy of saying yes, the challenges they endured, and the grace that has sustained them. "As we watch", invites Sr. Yvette Sam, a Cameroonian sister serving as General Councilor, "let us hold these sisters in prayer, each one in prayer, and allow their witness to deepen our own. May we pray for and with them with open hearts, grateful for the gift of their lives and their faithful commitment to Holy Union".
From Sr. Thérèse-Louise, who celebrated her 100th birthday this year, to Sr. Pascaline Fon and Sr. Elizabeth Ngwe, marking their 25th year of religious life, to Sr. Gildas Dingha and Sr. Cecilia Egho who will profess their perpetual vows in 2026, and sisters like Paula Coelho, Mary Lou Sullivan, Nancy Stiles, Mary Harrington, and Helen Meehan celebrating their 60th anniversary of religious life.
Full of gratitude, memory, and hope
“Today we have stood together on holy ground to celebrate this eventful day in the history of our congregation", shares Sr. Caroline Njah, Superior General of the Holy Union. "Throughout our time together, we have been conscious of what the letter to the Hebrews names so beautifully: that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We have honored those first courageous women who, at the beginning, dared to profess vows and entrust their lives to a vision larger than themselves. Their witness continues to echo through time, shaping who we are and how we live today".
A lifelong unfolding of grace, commitment, and love
"The fidelity of our nowadays witnesses, continues Sr. Caroline, reminds us that vowed life is not a single moment, but a lifelong unfolding of grace, commitment, and love. In the sisters who will profess their vows or mark significant jubilees, we see that the same spirit who moved our first women is still alive and active among us. The intergenerational, intercultural conversation we witnessed affirmed something deeply consoling: that our story continues to be written across ages, cultures, and experiences, woven together by a shared call and a common love. May we walk forward, strengthened by memory, enlivened by hope, and confident that the God who began this good work in Holy Union will continue to bring it to completion. With gratitude for the past, commitment in the present, and trust in the future, let us continue to journey together – faithful, courageous, and united in love as ever".
By Maria Chiara De Lorenzo