Salesian Missionaries of the Immaculate Virgin Mary

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The Salesian Missionaries of the Immaculate Virgin Mary (abbr. SMMI ) are a religious order of the Catholic Church . They were founded in 1889 by Henri Chaumont in Paris , France .

Emergence

The religious community came from the community of the “daughters of St. Francis of Sales ”. These "daughters" were founded on October 15, 1872 in Paris, France, by Henri Chaumont and Caroline Carré de Malberg . Right from the start, the founders fostered a special enthusiasm for the mission among the “daughters” . In 1889 this enthusiasm was put into practice by Marie Gertrude Gros and three other "daughters". At the invitation of the Bishop of Nagpur , they moved to India to serve as missionaries, especially the women and the poor. Initially, the sisters called themselves "Catechetical Missionaries of the Immaculate Virgin Mary" because they wanted to get involved in religious education. Since 1954, however, they have been known under the name “Salesian Missionaries of the Immaculate Virgin Mary”, because their activities are primarily under the protection of St. Francis de Sales and want to realize his Salesian spirituality as missionaries . They therefore belong to the communities of the Salesian Family . In 1968 the "Salesian Missionaries" for the universal Church of Pope Paul VI. recognized by the pope.

The goal

The religious community is sent in mission primarily to women and the poor. Women, the poor, and creation are to be renewed and strengthened through their prophetic action.

Challenged by the great love of God, which was revealed to people through Jesus Christ, and by the prophetic trust of Mary, expressed in her Magnificat , the “Salesian Missionaries” want to give an answer to today's world, which is partly in ruins. That is why they renounce worldly power themselves in order to give new strength to women, the poor and all of creation. Because of their work and missionary zeal, they also want to promote fellowship and renewal in God, as well as the renewal of society towards more humanity and justice.

Spread

The order is an international order of about 1250 sisters (as of 2005) from seven nations. They work in all five continents, especially in India, France, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Chile, Benin, Papua New Guinea, Algeria, Italy, Brazil, Cameroon and on the island of Mauritius.

restructuring

Organizational chart of the “Association of the Daughters of St. Francis of Sales "

On March 25, 1994 there was a restructuring: The lay branch, the “ Community of St. Francis de Sales ”was converted into a private“ Association of Believers of an International Character ” under ecclesiastical law and officially recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity as a spiritual community of lay people . The religious, that is, the Sisters of the Mission Salesians of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (SMMI), remain subordinate to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life . Both independent branches operate under the name “Association of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales “, every organization has a general council , the two councils meet for a general assembly.

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