The Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters (SNDS) was founded jointly by Mar Joseph Kundukulam, known as the “Father of the Poor,” and Monsignor Joseph Vilangadanachan, known as the “Protector of the Poor.” About six kilometers west of Thrissur town, in the village of Pullazhi, St. Christina’s Home was established by Mar Kundukulam, which later evolved into the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters. St. Christina’s Home was originally started with the aim of caring for unwed mothers and their children. In the early days, the inmates were under the care of the Carmelite sisters. However, due to the shortage of sufficient sisters and the increasing number of inmates, there arose a need for more dedicated personnel. This situation led to reflection on the necessity of a religious society devoted exclusively to this field. As a result of prayer and discernment, the founding fathers decided to establish a religious society dedicated to serving the poor, the abandoned, and the most marginalized in society. Thus, the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters (SNDS) was formed with an initial group of sixteen young women.
On 23 November 1971, by Decree No. 1499, the Pious Association and its constitution received approval from the Thrissur Archbishop’s House. The members of this pious association were given the name “Nirmala Dasi Sisters.” They took a pledge to live as consecrated persons, practicing evangelical virtues through a simple and hardworking life, serving the most suffering and abandoned in society, and drawing strength from prayer while sharing the love of Christ through their service. They also accepted the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, as their patroness and intercessor.
In 1980, the Holy Father Pope John Paul II approved the constitution of the Society and granted it pontifical recognition. On 8 December 2006, the Syro-Malabar Church’s Major Archbishop, Mar Varkey Vithayathil, elevated this Society to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal institute. The Generalate and the Novitiate house are situated in the village of Mulayam, about 14 kilometers east of Thrissur town.
Today, the apostolate of the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters has spread across various states and continents. In Kerala, the Society is present in five Eparchies, and it also serves in one Eparchy each in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and in three Eparchies in Telangana. Beyond India, it is active in six Eparchies in Kenya, and in one Eparchy each in Uganda, Hungary, and Germany. Altogether, in 20 Eparchies, 247 Nirmala Dasi Sisters serve in 50 houses, bearing witness to Christ through various charitable ministries. At present, six novices, five postulants, five aspirants, and eight candidates are undergoing formation.
With hearts filled with purity and holy intentions, the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters reaches out to the most neglected and abandoned sections of society, including the chronically ill, leprosy patients, the intellectually challenged, AIDS patients, the mentally ill, the elderly, the dying, the homeless, and those addicted to alcohol and drugs. Parish ministry and home visits are also among the important areas of their service. The spiritual strength for their apostolate is drawn from their life of prayer, especially from Eucharistic adoration. At the perpetual adoration center near the novitiate house, the sisters spend one week each in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., drawing divine strength that sustains their mission of service.
