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OUR MISSION
love of god
gentleness to the world
preaching parish missions
evangelizing people
educating the youth
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OUR VISION
religious missionary with salesian spirituality
explorer of the unknown
builder of communities
sower of god's word
enlightened guide and formator
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MISSIONARIES OF
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES

Fransalians
Province of EAST AFRICA
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Father Mermier

Father Pierre-Marie Mermier

 

Father Pierre-Marie Mermier was born on 28 August 1790 in Vouray in the parish of Chaumont en Genevois in Savoy. On 21 March 1813 he was ordained a priest.

Father Pierre-Marie Mermier was an austere priest of unbounded zeal. But most people were indifferent to Catholic Faith and practices, due to the influence of Jansenism, Gallicanism and the French Revolution. With a view to enliven the people in true faith he went from parish to parish, staying from four to six weeks in each. He prayed, preached and motivated the people to build up their faith. A few more priests joined his mission of preaching.

He felt the need to establish a missionary congregation to carry out the preaching ministry. On 24 October 1838 Bishop Rey issued an official document giving canonical approval to the Congregation founded by Father Pierre-Marie Mermier known as the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.

He founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales for

  • parish mission
  • foreign mission and
  • education of the youth.

His missionary zeal impelled him to ask the Holy Father for a mission abroad and accept a vast mission territory in India, where the Congregation was in its infancy with just eleven professed members. The missionaries came to India in 1845. Father Pierre-Marie Mermier died on 30 September 1862.

Now there are about 1.300 Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales serving the Church in 28 countries throughout the world.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales
(1567 – 1622)

 

St. Francis de Sales was born on August 21 in 1567 in Château de Thorens near Annecy (France). He is the patron saint of the deaf-mute, writers, journalists and also of the cities Geneva, Annecy and Chambéry.

In 1593, he was ordained a priest and in 1594 he went to Chablais mission among the Calvinists.  Although, he had many challenges and difficulties, including an attempted murder on him, he brought the whole district back to the Catholicism by prayers, penitence, writing and public debates.

In 1602 St. Francis de Sales was appointed to be the bishop of Geneva. He was a good shepherd, a talented preacher and a spiritual guide for countless people. On 6 June 1610, he founded the “Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary”, together with Jane Frances de Chantal. St. Francis de Sales passed away at the age of 55 of cerebral haemorrhage at Lyons on 28 December 1622. He was buried on January 24th at Annecy. He was beatified in 1662 and was canonized in 1665. Pope Pius X declared him as the Doctor of the Church in 1877.

His most famous books are

- Introduction to the Devout Life
- Treatise on the Love of God

Both books are considered spiritual classics.

For more information about St. Francis de Sales visit the following page: www.franzvonsaleslexikon.de