예수성심시녀회

History & origins

The history of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reaches back to 1935. According to the institute’s official chronology, six consecrated women began living in community in the Yeongcheon area of North Gyeongsang Province on December 8 of that year. This small community developed into the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, gradually expanding its apostolates into parish work, social welfare, healthcare, education, and other fields.

As the congregation and its ministries grew, its organizational structure also changed. A provincial system was decided upon in 2008, provincial superiors were appointed in October of that year, and the first provincial-level meetings followed in 2009. This marked a transition from a more centralized structure toward one that could accompany communities in different regions more closely.

In 2020, the congregation was reorganized into two provinces, Daegu and Seoul. Today, the Seoul Province is based in Sindang-dong. The history of this place should therefore not be identified directly with the congregation’s original 1935 foundation, but understood as the present home of the Seoul Province formed through the institute’s growth and organizational development.