About us
Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) is a Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right. The Generalate is located in Paris, France and the Congregation is spread over 22 countries comprising 8 Provinces and 5 Regions.
SMMI is the missionary branch of the Society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales. This society was founded in Paris on 15 October 1872 by Fr. Henri Chaumont and Madam Carré de Malberg to live the gospel and spread evangelical charity in the world. The missionary branch was formed in 1885, setting out its first missionary journey to India in 1889 led by the pioneers Mother Marie Gertrude, Mother Marie de Kostka, Sr. Magdalene and Sr. Joseph. The Religious Missionary Branch of the Society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales became autonomous on 11th November 1968. It was raised to the status of an Apostolic Religious Institute of Pontifical Right’ and continues to remain as part of the Salesian Society.
Opened by the Founders to all countries, all races, and all social classes, the institute has never ceased to grow. The institute is international by nature and the sisters live in multicultural communities in harmony and solidarity, witnessing the universal mission of the Church.
St. Francis de Sales — Bishop of Geneva (Switzerland) and Doctor of the Universal Church — was born at Thorens, in the Duchy of Savoy, August 21, 1567, to François de Sales de Boisy and Françoise de Sionnaz. The future saint was the eldest of six brothers. His father intended him for the magistracy and sent him at an early age to the colleges of La Roche and Annecy.
From 1583 till 1588 he studied rhetoric and humanities at the College of Clermont, Paris, under the care of the Jesuits. While there, he began a course of theology. After a terrible and prolonged temptation to despair, caused by the discussions of the theologians of the day on the question of predestination, from which he was suddenly freed as he knelt before a miraculous image of Our Lady at St. Etienne-des-Grès church (France), he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1588, he studied law at Padua (Italy) and he received his diploma of a doctorate from the famous lawyer Pancirola in 1592. Having been admitted as a lawyer before the senate of Chambéry, he was about to be appointed senator. His father had selected one of the noblest heiresses of Savoy to be the partner of his future life, but Francis declared his intention of embracing the ecclesiastical life.
In 1593, Francis received Holy Orders. With apostolic zeal, the new provost devoted himself to preaching, hearing confessions, and the other work of his ministry. In the following year (1594) he volunteered to evangelize Le Chablais, where the Genevans had imposed the Reformed Faith, and which had just been restored to the Duchy of Savoy. He confuted the preachers sent by Geneva to oppose him and he converted the syndicate and several prominent Calvinists. A large part of the inhabitants of Le Chablais returned to the true fold (1597 and 1598).
On the death of Claude de Granier, Francis was consecrated as the Bishop of Geneva (1602). He carefully visited the parishes scattered through the rugged mountains of his diocese. He reformed the religious communities. His goodness, patience and mildness became proverbial. He had an intense love for the poor, especially those who were of a respectable family. In 1607, he founded the Institute of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin with St. Jane Frances de Chantal. In 1622 he had to accompany the Court of Savoy into France. At Lyons, he insisted on occupying a small, poorly furnished room in a house belonging to the gardener of the Visitation Convent. There, on 27 December, he was seized with apoplexy. He received the last sacraments and made his profession of faith, repeating constantly the words: “God’s will be done! Jesus, my God and my all!” He died the next day, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
Fr. Henri Chaumont
Rev Fr Henri Chaumont was born in Paris on 11 December 1838 to Pierre Chaumont and Anne Korsten. Henri grew with a strong desire to be a missionary influenced by reading the magazines of Annals Of The Propagation Of Faith.
During his seminary studies, Henri was impressed by the life of St Francis de Sales and his missionary audacity. Study on the Acts of the Apostles impelled him to place the future society under the action of the Holy Spirit.
Henri was ordained a priest on 18 January 1864. Missionary life and Salesian spirituality were the two poles of his formation. As a priest at the service of the Diocese of Paris, all his life was marked by these two aspects. Praying at the tomb of St Francis de Sales, his project of forming a group of women living in the world became clear.
God puts two providential persons Madame Carré de Malberg and Mother Marie Gertrude who became his close collaborators in carrying out his long-cherished missionary dream for the evangelization of women by women apostles. Thus the birth of the Society took place on 15th October 1872, on the feast of St Therese of Avila. The foundation of the Priests of St Francis de Sales (PSFS) — was approved by the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Richard on 12 December 1876. The Foundation of the Associations of the Sons of St Francis de Sales (SSFS) was approved by Cardinal Richard Archbishop of Paris on 28 March 1898 and the occasion was officially marked on 8th December 1885. The dreams of Fr. Chaumont to be a missionary was realised by his Daughters (Catechist Missionaries of Mary Immaculate) who continued to extend the service in the spirit of the founding Charism. Fr. Henri Chaumont left to eternal home on May 15, 1896, at the age of 58.
Madam Carre De Malberg (Co- Foundress of the Society of DSFS)
Caroline Colchen Carré de Malberg was born on 8 April 1829 at Lorry Les Metz in the Lorraine region of France to Mr Colchen & Mrs Elizabeth Charlotte Simon who gave her a solid foundation to Christian Life. At the age of 20, Caroline got married to her cousin Paul Carré de Malberg who was a military officer. Paul Carre had a rather autocratic personality at home and this constrained Caroline Carre de Malberg both physically & psychologically.Madam Carre was blessed with four children, of which two of them died very early and the third child, little Marie Therese died at the age of four, leaving her grief-stricken. Later, Paul Carre, her son also died a tragic death at the age of 30. Overcome by this latest bereavement, she longed for spiritual help. This is when she met Fr. Chaumont. This providential meeting was a heaven-sent favour which proved to be a source of innumerable graces for both.
God puts two providential persons Madame Carré de Malberg and Mother Marie Gertrude who became his close collaborators in carrying out his long-cherished missionary dream for the evangelization of women by women apostles. Thus the birth of the Society took place on 15th October 1872, on the feast of St Therese of Avila. The foundation of the Priests of St Francis de Sales (PSFS) — was approved by the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Richard on 12 December 1876.
The Foundation of the Associations of the Sons of St Francis de Sales (SSFS) was approved by Cardinal Richard Archbishop of Paris on 28 March 1898 and the occasion was officially marked on 8th December 1885.
The dreams of Fr. Chaumont to be a missionary was realised by his Daughters (Catechist Missionaries of Mary Immaculate) who continued to extend the service in the spirit of the founding Charism. Fr. Henri Chaumont left to eternal home on May 15, 1896, at the age of 58.
Mother Marie Gertrude(Pioneer and Foundress of the ‘Missions’ in India)
Felicie Gros (Mother Marie Gertrude) was born on 27th March 1850 in Paris as the only daughter of Mr Eugene Gros and Madam Léonie Poissant. Felicie was lively, mischievous, affectionate and demonstrated a strong personality from an early age. At the age of five, she lost her father. Felicie’s mother noticed in her an exceptional intelligence, a reflective spirit, an upright soul and a tender heart. When Felicie was small, the Lord kindled in her heart the sacred missionary fire. She made her consecration in the society on 29th January 1875 and received her new name Sr. Marie Gertrude of Precious Blood.Marie Gertrude was sent to India as a pioneering missionary on 12th October 1889 along with three other sisters of the Catechist Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (CMMI) — Mother Marie de Kostka, Sr. Magdalene and Sr. Joseph — after having given a special formation for mission countries. They were sent on a mission for evangelization, with a special focus on women and the poor, to make them apostles in their turn.
These Missionaries (CMMI) reached Nagpur in India on 2nd November 1889 under the leadership of Mother Marie Gertrude. The pioneers endured the challenges, trials of missionary life (language, culture, the practice of faith, lifestyle, extreme poverty, communicable diseases, extreme heat and weather) with strong faith, filial confidence in God and ardent missionary zeal.
She drew her strength from the Eucharistic Lord, centring her life on the word of God, with deep faith and filial confidence in the Divine Providence. Her missionary audacity led her to hundreds of villages in central India and Tamil Nadu in order to share the Gospel of salvation. Her outstanding compassion for the least and the lost, the Dalits and downtrodden of the society, especially to women and the poor found its realization in the homes, hospital and welfare centres.
She established homes for the widows, the orphans, the lepers, the abandoned, the aged and differently-abled children in India and other countries of the world. Seeing God’s will in every event and call, with unfailing commitment, Mother Marie Gertrude accomplished the mission entrusted to her.
On 18 March 1905, a Saturday, Mother Marie Gertrude of the Precious Blood surrendered her earthly mission into the hands of God our Father and breathed her last.
Marie Gertrude was sent to India as a pioneering missionary on 12th October 1889 along with three other sisters of the Catechist Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (CMMI) — Mother Marie de Kostka, Sr. Magdalene and Sr. Joseph — after having given a special formation for mission countries. They were sent on a mission for evangelization, with a special focus on women and the poor, to make them apostles in their turn.
The Mission of SMMI in Karnataka was launched in 1914. Mother Jeanne de Gethsemane accompanied the pioneers Mother Anastasie and Sr. Felix reached Bangalore on the 10th July 1914. The SMMI sisters were cordially welcomed by Bishop Augustin Francois Basle. The official opening took place on 12th July 1914. Fr. Peter M Briand and some civil authorities were present to mark the auspicious event.
Bangalore being a cosmopolitan city with a multi-linguistic and multicultural population, the pioneering missionaries communicated God’s love with untiring zeal and persevering efforts. Initially, they started a dispensary and visited the sick in their homes, making a pathway to meet people personally. Poor people flocked to the sisters for healing, counselling and comfort. A few years later these missionaries started a vocational training centre to teach tailoring and embroidery for a few local young girls and women. The need for basic education was soon very apparent and the sisters began organizing primary classes.
In the early days, the missionary dynamism led the sisters to venture into the remote villages in the city and in different districts of the state like Silvepura, Begur, Harobale, Rayapuram, Malleshwaram, Tumkur, Tiptur, Kanakapura to reach out to the poorest of the poor with the Gospel flame by means of education, health care and pastoral guidance in-accordance with the spirit and charism of the founders. On 2nd June 1948, at the age of 66, Mother Anastasie the pioneer was called for her eternal rest.
The Province of Karnataka grew progressively spreading across 10 districts of Karnataka and one district of Andhra Pradesh comprising 23 communities. In 2008 the province of Karnataka had the joy of laying a new foundation in West Africa in the diocese of Sunyani, Ghana.
Every drop makes the ocean. So also the hard beginnings of the pioneer’s endeavours have borne abundant fruits for the kingdom of God. Standing on the shoulders of our pioneering missionaries we continue to seek the will of God to let his light shine upon us in order to persevere daily to answer the clarion call of the church to address the relevant issues of modern society. We strive relentlessly to give birth to the “culture of life” with a global view and digital approach carrying the gospel light to women and the poor of our society. This new way of seeing which is inclusive and holistic is a way of knitting communion in mutuality,interdependence and equality.
Thousands of girl children, women and the poor have been restored to their human dignity, empowering them with the image of God to become in their turn ‘women apostles’ to spread Good News of God’s presence to many more generations. This mission is being continued by the succeeding missionaries of today with updated means which the digital world offers.