The Institute of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus was founded in France in the 17th century by a Religious Minim, Reverend Father Nicolas Barre who lived from 1621
till 1686.
He was a man who had great faith in God. Through prayer and contemplation, he becams sensitive to the anguish of the ordinary people he met in the outskirts of Rouen in France. He was especially attentive to the needs of the children and younger people.
In 1666, some courageous women who shared Father Barre�s insight, commited themselves totally to instruct and educate the children, espescially the poor.
On 7th March 1999, Reverend Father Nicholas Barre was declared a �Blessed�(a person assured to be in heaven) by His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
The first Sisters, who came to Malaysia in 1852 and to Singapore in 1854, had mainly been involved in education in schools and the caring for the less
privileged and neglected children in the Convents and in the less developed areas.
Since 1952, many Convent Schools, both primary and secondary, have been opened by the Infant Jesus Sisters. Most of the Convent Schools are situated along the West Coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Until the mid seventies, many of these schools were headed by Sister Principals. Due to retirement and lack of personnel, more and more lay people were chosen to head the Convent Schools. |
