The 20th and 21st Centuries
- Guesthouse
In the 20th century, the Sisters of St. Ursula expanded their activities. Until then, the focus had been almost exclusively on education, with the exception of a few sisters who took care of the convent’s household.
But now—perhaps as a result of their missionary work—they also took on nursing and other social and charitable tasks.
This also led to an increase in new members. The highest number was reached in 1961 with 198 Swiss sisters. Beginning in 1964, the missionaries also began accepting local novices in Africa and India. As a result, the highest number grew to 210 sisters by the year 2000.
- Visp Hospital
- From 1920: ambulatory nursing in several villages in the upper Valais region
- From 1925: Service at the Spiritus Sanctus College (housekeeping, nursing, later as prefects)
- 1934: First missionaries depart for Africa
- 1934: Opening of St. Mary’s Hospital, initially situated in the building of the hosehold school in Visp
- From 1938: Work at the Jodernheim
- From 1940: Marienheim in Brig, later called Guesthouse
- 1942: Theresianum in Blatten near Naters
- From the 1970s: Old People's homes
- After 1972: Pastoral work
Over time, more and more other people (“laypeople” or non-sisters) took on such tasks. At the same time, new admissions to the order declined, so that in 1999 we gave up teaching entirely, and gradually stopped working at the hospital in Visp as well as other tasks.
At the end of 2025, 27 Swiss Sisters of St. Ursula lived in the convent in Brig, along with 3 sisters from India.