Paula Frassinetti
Paula Frassinetti was an Italian saint and the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy. She is remembered for establishing this religious congregation dedicated to serving the poorest and most needy youth. Her feast day is celebrated annually on June 11.
- Feast Day
- June 11
- Century
- 19th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Paula Frassinetti was born in Genoa, Italy, on March 3, 1809.
- ›She founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy in 1835.
- ›The congregation initially focused on serving poor and needy youth.
- ›The institute expanded to other parts of Italy and later established presences in Malta, Portugal, and Brazil.
- ›Her body was reported to be found incorrupt in 1906.
- ›She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on March 11, 1984.
Congregazione Suore di S. Dorotea della Frassinetti
Sisters of Saint Dorothy
About Paula Frassinetti
Paula Frassinetti, Foundress of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy
Paula Frassinetti (1809-1882) was an Italian saint, revered in the Roman Catholic Church. She is chiefly remembered as the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, an order dedicated to the education and care of the poorest and most needy youth.
Life and Ministry
Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1809, Paula Frassinetti experienced early loss with the death of her mother when she was nine and her aunt three years later. At the age of twelve, she assumed significant household responsibilities. At nineteen, she joined her brother Giuseppe, a priest, in the seaside village of Quinto. In 1834, she and six other women formed a community known as the "Daughters of Holy Faith," which began teaching in a small school. Their charitable work extended to Genoa during a cholera outbreak.
A pivotal moment came in 1835 when Luca Passi invited Frassinetti to assume the "Pious Work of Saint Dorothy," a project aimed at serving vulnerable youth. This led to the "Daughters of Holy Faith" becoming known as the Sisters of Saint Dorothy. Frassinetti established a house in Rome in 1841, and the institute's work grew, with new houses, boarding schools, and orphanages established throughout Italy. The sisters later expanded their mission internationally, establishing a presence in Malta, Portugal, and Brazil, and engaging in parish ministry and student residences in the United Kingdom.
Paula Frassinetti died on June 11, 1882, following pneumonia after suffering strokes. Her body was reportedly found to be incorrupt in 1906.
Veneration and Legacy
Paula Frassinetti was beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 8, 1930, and formally canonized by Pope John Paul II on March 11, 1984. Her feast day is observed on June 11. Today, approximately 1,200 sisters from her congregation remain active across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, continuing her legacy of education and service through love and simplicity.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Paula Frassinetti born and where?
Paula Frassinetti was born on March 3, 1809, in Genoa, Italy. Her parents were Giovanni Battista Frassinetti and Angela.
What religious congregation did Paula Frassinetti found?
She is the foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, also known as Congregazione Suore di S. Dorotea della Frassinetti. She assumed the Pious Work of Saint Dorothy in 1835.
What was the primary mission of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy?
The congregation was founded to serve the poorest and most needy youth. The sisters were involved in teaching in schools, helping during cholera outbreaks, and later established boarding schools and orphanages.
When was Paula Frassinetti canonized?
Paula Frassinetti was canonized on March 11, 1984, by Pope John Paul II. She had been beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 8, 1930.
When is the feast day of Saint Paula Frassinetti?
Her feast day is celebrated annually on June 11, the date of her death in 1882.
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