INCEPTION of F I H
The Congregation of the Franciscan sisters of the immaculate Heart of Mary, Quilon, is the first indigenous women’s congregation in the continent of Asia. In the middle of the 19th century, society’s attitude towards women and their educational opportunities was dismal. Women were often treated as slaves. This was a serious issue at the time, highlighting the need to promote the dignity of women and raise the standard of family life.
At this juncture, the synod of Pondicherry, held from January 18 to February 13, 1844 during the tenure of Msgr. Clement Bonnand, the Bishop of Pondicherry Mission, addressed these concerns. The key topic of discussion at the synod was the education of female children and their upliftment. Father Dupuis was assigned three important tasks during the synod.
- To develop the Printing Press.
- To establish a new Indigenous Religious Congregation with the main aim to educate the girl children.
- To start Schools for the girl children.
The very zealous man of God’s providence, Servant of God Louis Savinien Dupuis, MEP founded the congregation of the Franciscan sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on October 16th 1844 , with the blessing and consent of His Holiness Pope Gregory XVI and His Grace Clement Bonnand, the Vicar Apostolic of Pondicherry. The founder himself looked after the young congregation to ensure its growth.
On July 26, 1907, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Maria Benziger OCD Bishop of Quilon brought a community of sisters from Pondicherry to Kanjiracode in the Diocese of Quilon, Kerala . On March 7, 1947, His Excellency, Most Rev. Leo P. Kierkels, CSP the Apostolic Delegate of the East –Indies, effected the bifurcation of the congregation, separating the Kerala region from the rest.
In the year 1947, His Excellency Rt. Rev. Dr. Jerome M Fernandez Bishop of Quilon inaugurated and declared the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as an independent Diocesan Congregation and started to flourish according to the values of the founder under the divine providence.

SPIRITUALITY

Mother Mary
The Congregation is primarily placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The sisters are to foster a special devotion to the immaculate heart and imitate the virtues symbolized by it.

St. Joseph
The Congregation also place a special devotion to St. Joseph husband of Mary and seek His heavenly intercession.

St. Francis of Assisi
The second patron of the congregation is St. Francis of Assisi whose spirit of seraphic love should be regarded as the way of life of the members of the Congregation.
GOVERNANCE

REV. MOTHER REXIA MARY
Superior General FIH
GENARAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

Rev. Dr. Sr. Celcy Mary FIH
(Assitant Superior General) Healing ministry & Mission

Rev. SR. USHATTA MARY
Social service Ministry

Rev. SR. RENORA MARY
Education ministry

Rev. SR. SAJITHA MARY
Vocation & Formation ministry

Rev. SR. CELIA MARY
General Bursar
Provincial SuperiorS

Rev. Sr. Adolf Mary
Provincial Superior FIH KERALA PROVINCE

Rev. Sr. Preethy Mary
Provincial Superior FIH KARTNAKA PROVINCE

Rev. Sr. Collin Mary
Provincial Superior FIH DELHI PROVINCE
KERALA PROVINCE TEAM MEMBERS

DELHI PROVINCE TEAM MEMBERS

KARTNAKA PROVINCE TEAM MEMBERS


MONUMENTAL EVENTS
1844 – Foundation of the congregation at pondicherry
1859 – Aggregation to the third order of st. Francis of assisi
1864 – Canonical status as a diocesan congregation
1907- Arrival in kerala at kanjiracode
1874-Demise of Founder
1947 – Bifurcation of the congregation
1947 – First general chapter
1966 – Blessing of new cemetry at kottiyam
1997 – Elevation to the status of pontifical right
1998- Inauguration of the regional administration
2005 – Inauguration of the Vimala Hridaya retreat centre at kampivila ,kottiyam
2010 – Blessing and inauguration of the perpetual adoration chapel at retreat centre , kampivila ,kottiyam
2016 – Initialization for beatification and canonization of the founder,proclaiming him as a “servant of god”
2018 – Inauguration of the provincial administration
2019 – First provincial chapter of three provinces
2019 – 175 th celebration of the foundation of FIH Congregation
2022 – Platinum (75) Jubilee of the foundation of FIH Congregation in Kollam

Our flourishing Mission:
Growing in faith, Serving with heart
- FIH GENERALATE ,PALATHARA.KOLLAM
- ASSISI VINAYALAYA ,KOTTIYAM ,KOLLAM
- CASA SERENA PRATO, ITALY
- FIH CONVENT,CHILLICOTHE,OHIO,USA
- FIH CONVENT COLUMBUS OHIO.USA
- FIH CONVENT,DUBERN,GERMANY
- FIH CONVENT,HAGEN ,GERMANY
- FIH CONVENT,WELDER PLACE, INDIANAPOLIS ,USA
- FIH CONVENT,ZWEIBRUCKEN,GERMANY
- ISTITUTO ‘’S.GIOVANI DI DIO “ROME ,ITALY
- MARIEN HAUS,MARSBERG,GERMANY
- OUR LADY OF GREENWOOD CONVENT, GREENWOOD, USA
- S CONVENT,KOTTIYAM
- ADELHEIDES STIFT, BONN, GERMANY
- ELIZABETH HAUS, BERLIN, GERMANY
- FRANCIZCUS KRANKEN HAUS, AACHEN, GERMANY
- JOSEPH’S CONVENT, NEW YORK, USA
- LUKE’S CONVENT, INDIANAPOLIS,USA
- MICHAEL’S CONVENT, INDIANAPOLIS,USA
- SUORE FRANCESCANE, PALERMO, ITALY
- SUORE FRANCISCANE, TORINO, ITALY
- VH CONVENT, KUMARAPURAM, TVM
- VH CONVENT, PAZHAYATTINKUZHY, KOLLAM
- VH CONVENT, VIRALY, TVM
- VIMALA NIKETH CONVENT, THAZHUTHALA, KOLLAM
- VIMALA NIKETH FORMATION HOUSE, THAZHUTHALA, KOLLAM
- V H CONVENT, DELHI PROVINCIAL HOUSE
- AMALASHRAM, PURNEA, BIHAR , INDIA
- ASSISI BHAVAN, PUNNAPARA, KERALA
- ASSISI CONVENT, CHANNAPETTA, KERALA
- CHRIST KING CONVENT, PUNALUR, KERALA
- CLARE’S CONVENT, KAVALANGAD, KERALA
- FIH SANTHI BHAVAN, EDACOCHI, KERALA
- JOSEPH’S CONVENT, MADHURAVELY, KERALA
- JYOTHI BHAVAN, CHARODA , INDIA
- V H CONVENT, BAGELA, BIHAR , INDIA
- VH CONVENT, BANMANKHI .BIHAR, INDIA
- VH CONVENT, BAWAL, HARYANA, INDIA
- VH CONVENT EDATHALA, ALUVA, KERALA
- VH CONVENT, ELURU, A P, INDIA
- VH CONVENT, SHILONG, INDIA
- VH CONVENT, VEERAVASARAM, A.P , INDIA
- VIMALAMBIKA, KOTTARAKARA, KERALA
- VH CONVENT, RISDA, BHILASPUR , INDIA
- FIH KERALA PROVINCIALATE
- ANTONY’S CONVENT ,KOIVILA ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
- AROGYA MATHA CONVENT , BEACH ROAD ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
- ASSUMPTION CONVENT , CLAPPANA ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
- IHM CONVENT ,PATTATHANAM ,KOLLAM,KERALA
- KARMEL HOSTEL ,PATTATHANAM ,KERALA
- LITTLE FLOWER CONVENT ,SASTHAMCOTTA ,KERALA
- LOKARAKSHAKA CONVENT, ARINELLORE ,KERALA
- LOURDE MATHA CONVENT ,KOVILTHOTTAM ,KERALA
- MARGARETS CONVENT ,KANJIRACODE ,KERALA
- MARY’S CONVENT ,KUMBALAM ,KERALA
- MARY’S CONVENT, PORTKOLLAM ,KERALA
- S BALIKA SADANAM , KOTTIYAM KERALA
- SACRED HEART CONVENT ,KANDACHIRA ,KERALA
- STELLAMARIS CONVENT , THIRUMULLAVARAM ,KERALA
- V H CONVENT ,BALOTRA ,AJMER,INDIA
- V H CONVENT , FALNA ,AJMER ,INDIA
- V H CONVENT , KALA-AMB , HARYANA ,INDIA
- V H CONVENT , SAKTHIKULANGARA ,KERALA
- V H CONVENT , THAZHUTHALA ,KOTTIYAM ,KERALA
- V H CONVENT , AZHEEKAL ,KERALA
- FIH KARNATAKA PROVINCIAL HOUSE,BYRATHY, BENGALRU,INDIA
- ANTONY’S CONVENT, SANTHAVASAL,TAMIL NADU ,INDIA
- CARMALARAM , UDAYANKULANGARA, KERALA
- DUPUIS ‘ NIVAS ,KORBA, CHHATTISGARH,INDIA
- FIH CONVENT, KOLAR ,KARNATAKA, BENGALRU , INDIA
- I C CONVENT ,MUTHIAVILA ,TVM ,KERALA
- JOSEPH’S CONVENT , UCHAKKADA ,TVM KERALA
- JUDE BALIKASADANAM ,VIRALY ,KERALA
- SNEHA NIVAS ,KORBA , CHHATTISGARH , INDIA
- V H CONVENT , CHENGAM , TAMIL NADU,INDIA
- V H CONVENT , CHUNKANKADAI ,INDIA
- V H CONVENT , JAMTHARA ,INDIA
- VIMALALAYA ,BENGALRU ,INDIA
- XAVIER’S CONVENT ,PEYAD ,KERALA
- ODISHA MISSION ,SULLUDI