They took up the following apostolate:
Asylum for Widows and Orphans	Imparting knowledge to the poor children
Caring for Sick, Lepers, Blind, TB Patients	Family Visits

 

The Institute of Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (SMMI), a missionary branch, was born from the society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales. The society of the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales was founded in Paris on 15 October 1872, by Fr. Henri Chaumont and Madam Carre de Malberg, to live the Gospel and to spread its spirit in the world.

This Society was founded for lay women: married, widows or unmarried, etc…, to live the Gospel in their milieu according to the Spirituality of St Francis de Sales.

This Society spread very rapidly in France and other European countries.

Fr Henri Chaumont himself wanted to be a missionary but he could not realize it due to his ill health.

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.

Their Apostolic and Spiritual life inspired some Bishops to invite CMMI in their Dioceses.

In 1889, Bishop Alexis Riccaz, Bishop of Nagpur, India, requested for CMMI in his diocese. On 12 October 1889, four Catechist Missionaries, under the leadership of Mother Marie Gertrude, embarked from Marseille, France, to India to the Mission of Nagpur.

They began their ministries by offering shelter to the orphans & Widows in our Asylum, Family visits, Caring for Sick, Lepers, Blind & TB Patients and imparting knowledge to the poor children.

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”, yet remains part of the Salesian Society. Open, by the Founders to all countries, all races, all social classes, the institute has never ceased to grow. From the beginning, specifically dedicated to the missionary apostolate for non-Christian countries, the Institute then is fully available to the universal mission of the Church and to her calls in the world of today. The Institute with the Sisters is an international organization and sisters live in multicultural communities in harmony and solidarity, thereby witnessing to the vitality and the diversity of the Church.