Through the milestones of the Snehagiri Missionary Sisters, who were born and raised in the soil of Palai…
The Snehagiri Missionary Sisters (SMS) is a religious congregation in the Syro-Malabar Church with a Specific Charism of witnessing the compassionate love of Jesus among the poor and abandoned, deriving spiritual power and strength from the Holy Eucharist. Inspired by the words of Jesus Christ “Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40), the religious congregation of the Snehagiri Missionary Sisters was founded in the Eparchy of Palai on 24th May 1969 by Rev. Fr. Abraham Kaippanplackal with the blessings and patronage of Bishop of Palai, late Mar Sebastian Vayalil. On 24th November 1994 it was constituted as a Congregation of Eparchial Right by Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil, the then Bishop of the Eparchy of Palai. The growth and development of our Religious congregation during the last 56 years has been praiseworthy. The Mother General of the congregation is Sr. Piusha and it consists of 525 professed sisters and 25 candidates undergoing formation. We have 117 houses and the Sisters are rendering their services in 26 Dioceses in India and abroad. Six thousand inmates live in the shelter of Snehagiri. Our Sisters are engaged in purely humanitarian activities and services.
We are rendering service in different charitable institutions such as Bala Bhavans, Old age homes, homes for physically handicapped, mentally challenged people and mentally ill people. We are also running Special Schools. Besides we conduct Training Centers of various kinds for Cutting and Tailoring, Craft Centre, Embroidery work, Host Making, Baking, Printing, etc. We are also doing the Pastoral activities of parish by teaching Catechism, house visiting, Home mission programme conducting Bible classes and Prayer services for the parishioners. In rural areas, Sisters give primary education to the poor children. Due to the numerous problems of the modern families, our sisters are involved in family apostolate and Counselling. The Silver Jubilee of our Congregation was celebrated in the year 1993- 1994.
On 24th November 1994, the Snehagiri Missionary Sisters are raised in to the status of an Eparchial Congregation in the Syro-Malabar Church. Our revised Statutes and Directives were approved by the Major Archiepiscopal curia on 15th August 2006. On 3rd September 2006, the Snehagiri Missionary Sisters are raised in to the Status of Major Archiepiscopal Congregation by His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church. On 3rd March, 2008, the Congregation is Structurally divided into three Provinces namely, St. Thomas Province, Pala, St. Mary’s Province, Kothamangalam and St. Joseph’s Province, Malabar. On December 2nd 2014, Snehagiri Missionary Sisters established a region for the congregation which is known as Snehatma Region Jagdalpur under Kothamangalam St. Mary’s Province.
On 4th May 2014 our beloved founder Rev. Fr. Abraham Kaippanplackal was called for eternal rest in peace. The Golden Jubilee of our Congregation was celebrated in the year 2018-2019. The Snehagiri Missionary Congregation has grown to the peripheries of the world through the divine grace and support of many people. Wherever we are sent, we give witness the compassionate love of Jesus. The teaching of the founder is that, you never forget the poor, God will never forget you. So where a new convent is start, there will be a home for the poor attached. Still the day, we experience day to day the divine providence in every walk of our life.
More than 6000 people enjoy the compassionate love of God through these homes. We, the whole members of the Congregation open our hearts to Lord Almighty and thank Him for the abundance of blessings which He gave us. We imbibe inspiration and strength from the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Altar.
Sr. Piusha SMS
(Mother General)
