WELCOME
WHO WE ARE?
We are an International Congregation known as the ‘Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate’ (SMMI), a Religious Missionary branch of the Society of the Daughters of Saint Francis de Sales. Our Generalate is based in Paris, France and the Congregation is spread over 22 countries comprising 8 Provinces and 5 Regions. We live in multi-cultural communities in harmony and solidarity witnessing to the vitality and diversity of the Church. We follow the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales (SFS) and embrace the duties of our state of life in response to the universal call to Holiness. The virtues of humility, gentleness, simplicity, patience, optimism, interiority and respect are the Salesian way of living the Gospel with great liberty of spirit and deep joy. By following the Salesian Spirituality, we live in the context of the words of our Patron Saint, “Let us be who we are, and be that well, so as to honor the Master Worker, whose handiwork we are.”
SMMI Nagpur Province
In India, we, the SMMI had our first establishment at Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1891. This mission in Nagpur which is the cradle of the SMMI in India, was pioneered by four young and courageous French Missionaries: Servant of God Mother Marie Gertrude and her three companions. The Pioneers fought all odds of life in this foreign land and passed on the flame to generations of young Indian girls and women who are zealous and passionate for mission and have the zest for life in Christ. Today, Nagpur province has 18 communities in 6 Dioceses in India with 164 members who are dedicatedly living the vision of our Founders in continuing the mission of Christ. Our Co–foundress, Mother Marie Gertrude, insists us through (Retreat at Kumbakonam pg- 66) “A Catechist Missionary must be a soul filled with God and it is not enough for her to be filled with god to the brim; He must overflow through her”. Thus, to be a living presence of God among people and His entire creation, we render our services through schools, hospitals, colleges, Socio pastoral ministries etc. In all our ministries, we render our services with special preference for the poor and women. Our mission activities are not static. We are flexible to adapt to the needs of the people and the places wherever we are called. Striving to live the gospel and to be the image of Christ, who never condemns even the sex workers, sick, tax collectors etc, we also work for the rehabilitation of sex workers and drug addicts, against human trafficking etc. The Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate serves people of every religion, race, cast, creed, language and place.