Teresa Gimma was born in Bari (Italy) on March 10, 1880. To her parents, saddened by the loss of two children, she gave new joy and new hope. She was given the name Teresa.
At the age of 18 she asked to join the Daughters of St. Teresa. This request created havoc in the serene house of the Gimma spouses, who looked to their daughter as the only heir of their family.
Despite these pressures and opposition, supported by a mysterious force, Teresa crossed the blessed threshold of the Carmel of St. Joseph in Bari, on May 29, 1898.
After the Postulancy, which was quite prolonged through the prayers of Cavaliere Gimma, who was hoping for and awaiting the return of his beloved daughter to the ancestral Home, Teresa was finally able to put on the Sacred woollen habit of Carmel, amid the admiration and enthusiasm of those who knew her. Her baptismal name was kept at her Father’s wish. When the formal command from the Archbishop to leave her monastery to give life to a new Carmel arrived on July 13, 1920, Sister Teresa immediately left (July 14, 1920) the beloved Cloister, after twenty-two years of peace and intimate joys, enjoyed in the sweet oasis of St. Joseph, and returned to her father's home.
The following day, July 15, by the express will of His Excellency, Monsignor Vaccaro, the first Holy Mass was celebrated in the improvised chapel of Palazzo Gimma. On that same day, His Excellency sent a letter to Sister Teresa, promising to protect the nascent work and inviting her to begin the work of transforming the Palace.
In 1932, Archbishop Augusto Curi, in agreement with the Superiors of the Order, decided to transfer the nuns to another place, far from the city. The present villa was purchased and enlarged and modified according to their needs. The Community left Palazzo Gimma, and moved to Via Salerno in 1935.
On June 5, 1938, the Religious made solemn vows, and ten years later, in 1948, on the first of December, the Mother Foundress, who had already seen her work prosper, after a very edifying life gave up her soul to God.
The diocesan process into her «life, virtue and reputation for holiness» ended on 6th of June 2012 in the Archdiocese of Bari-Bitonto. On 19th of June 2015, the decree of validity was granted.
