The Congregation of the Apostolic Sisters of Mary Immaculate, known as ASMI, were founded in response to the divine inspiration received through prayer by Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara, who looked with deep concern upon families being tossed about by the turbulent currents of materialistic living conditions. The official beginning of the congregation was on September 21, 1974. The congregation works with the aim of renewing families, which are the foundation of the Church and the cradle of personal formation. ASMI has chosen the Mary Immaculate, who participated in the salvific plan of Christ through her total self-surrender, as its heavenly patroness. In collaboration with parishes, it works for the renewal of families, irrespective of caste or religion.
To bear witness to Christ throughout life is the vision of the Apostolic Sisters of Mary Immaculate. Through a total self-offering that touches every dimension of life, they share with individuals and families, through family apostolate, parish apostolate, education and healthcare, the salvific experience that flows from a life of imitation of Christ and union with God. In this way, the Apostolic Sisters of Mary Immaculate have undertaken the apostolic mission of bringing all people into communion with the Triune God. In keeping with the needs of the times, they also render services such as the care of persons with physical and mental disabilities, healthcare, home mission, social service, special schools for persons with disabilities, nursing care, palliative care, dispensaries and counseling.
The sisters are engaged in ministry in various eparchies of the Syro-Malabar Church, as well as in Germany and at the mission centres in Jaipur and Bijnor. The Generalate of the ASMI Congregation is situated at Cheeranchira, near Changanacherry. On December 8, 2004, the ASMI Congregation was elevated to the status of an eparchial congregation. The care, merciful love and providential intervention of God can be seen throughout the growth of the congregation. The members of the Apostolic Sisters of Mary Immaculate continue to give meaning through their lives to the exhortation of St Paul the Apostle: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). As the presence of Jesus, as a foretaste of heavenly life, as channels of divine power and as witnesses to the Gospel, the ASMI sisters are ever ready to reap a hundredfold harvest.
