About us
Who we are
We are the Congregation of the Servants of Charity, it is a religious Congregation of Pontifical Right, founded by Saint Louis Guanella, an Italian priest who lived from 1842 to 1915. Born in the northern part of Italy on the mountainous area of Fraciscio, he made his presence felt in many realities and in different areas. The zeal to give his life for the needy, is realised in his religious and priestly vocation, where he heard and answered the call to serve God in the midst of the needy of different categories. He opened many Centres where the people of God, especially the poorest and the needy are taken care of, and houses where vocations are nurtured. He attended to the spiritual, material and moral needs of the poor through parish pastoral care and his social encounters. In order to reach out to various geographical realities, he tells his followers: “the whole world is your home land”, which is an invitation to carry the works of charity around the world.
Then Following his footprint, a big reality is formed, comprising of Priests, Sisters, youths, old people, people with psyco-physical disability, co-operators, benefactors, parishioners, families, friends and well-wishers. These realities are carried on principally by the three branches of the guanellian family: The Servants of Charity, which is the male Religious Congregation, comprised of the priests and brothers; the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence, which is the female Religious Congregation; and the Guanellian Lay movements which incorporate the Guanellian Co-operators, and collaborators, and Guanellian Youth Movement.
The Guanellian Lay Movement is essentially a choice of mind and heart, backed up by action; with a vital and practical commitment. Ordinarily, men and women who appreciate the charism of charity can be members of this Movement, and they are:
• Those who want to follow the example of St. Louis Guanella by their humble service to the poor
• Youths, volunteers, families, benefactors, friends and sympathizers who value and cherish our Charism
• Those who are prompted to charity because of the education and formation received in a Guanellian House (Alumni)
• Residents of our Houses
• Family members of our residents
• Staff of our pastoral, missionary, or charitable Centres
• ‘Associates who attach themselves to the Guanellian religious in order to live community life with them.”
Today this reality is felt in different geographical contexts, as it is lived in around 150 concrete realities found in 23 countries: Italy, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Argentina, Cile, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, India, Filipine, Vietnam, U.S.A, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, Romania, and Solomon Ireland. In all these realities, the mission has been, that of service, in defence and promotion of the human dignity, and contributing positively to the life of people around us, especially people with physical and intellectual impairments, the old people, children, and youths. We also work in parishes, Centres and formation houses. However, one of these realities in Nigeria is what we have here as Don Guanella Centre for Persons with Disability, located in Nnebukwu, Oguta L.G.A, Imo State.
It is a Centre that houses up to 40 persons with physical/intellectual disability. In this place we take care of their physical, spiritual, and psycho-social needs. With love and compassion, they are thought and formed on how to utilize their full potentials, based on their capacities. We have some workers, teachers and collaborators. Apart from the little or no contributions made by their families, the Centre provides all their necessary needs. For example, we provide shelter for all the children and some of the workers, as well as other various necessities.
Our approach
Our Mission
To accompany persons with disability by providing a conducive environment characterised by genuine love and care, with necessary assistance that will help them reach their full potentials according to their possibility.
Our Vision
To ensure that persons with disability are accepted, respected and valued in the society like every other human person, in order to build an inclusive society
