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.

  1. To develop the Printing Press.
  2. To establish a new Indigenous Religious Congregation with the main aim to educate the girl children.
  3. 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

  1. FIH GENERALATE ,PALATHARA.KOLLAM
  2. ASSISI VINAYALAYA ,KOTTIYAM ,KOLLAM
  3. CASA SERENA PRATO, ITALY
  4. FIH CONVENT,CHILLICOTHE,OHIO,USA
  5. FIH CONVENT COLUMBUS OHIO.USA
  6. FIH CONVENT,DUBERN,GERMANY
  7. FIH CONVENT,HAGEN ,GERMANY
  8. FIH CONVENT,WELDER PLACE, INDIANAPOLIS ,USA
  9. FIH CONVENT,ZWEIBRUCKEN,GERMANY
  10. ISTITUTO ‘’S.GIOVANI DI DIO “ROME ,ITALY
  11. MARIEN HAUS,MARSBERG,GERMANY
  12. OUR LADY OF GREENWOOD CONVENT, GREENWOOD, USA
  13. S CONVENT,KOTTIYAM
  14. ADELHEIDES STIFT, BONN, GERMANY
  15. ELIZABETH HAUS, BERLIN, GERMANY
  16. FRANCIZCUS KRANKEN HAUS, AACHEN, GERMANY
  17. JOSEPH’S CONVENT, NEW YORK, USA
  18. LUKE’S CONVENT, INDIANAPOLIS,USA
  19. MICHAEL’S CONVENT, INDIANAPOLIS,USA
  20. SUORE FRANCESCANE, PALERMO, ITALY
  21. SUORE FRANCISCANE, TORINO, ITALY
  22. VH CONVENT, KUMARAPURAM, TVM
  23. VH CONVENT, PAZHAYATTINKUZHY, KOLLAM
  24. VH CONVENT, VIRALY, TVM
  25. VIMALA NIKETH CONVENT, THAZHUTHALA, KOLLAM
  26. VIMALA NIKETH FORMATION HOUSE, THAZHUTHALA, KOLLAM
  27. V H CONVENT, DELHI PROVINCIAL HOUSE
  28. AMALASHRAM, PURNEA, BIHAR , INDIA
  29. ASSISI BHAVAN, PUNNAPARA, KERALA
  30. ASSISI CONVENT, CHANNAPETTA, KERALA
  31. CHRIST KING CONVENT, PUNALUR, KERALA
  32. CLARE’S CONVENT, KAVALANGAD, KERALA
  33. FIH SANTHI BHAVAN, EDACOCHI, KERALA
  34. JOSEPH’S CONVENT, MADHURAVELY, KERALA
  35. JYOTHI BHAVAN, CHARODA , INDIA
  36. V H CONVENT, BAGELA, BIHAR , INDIA
  37. VH CONVENT, BANMANKHI .BIHAR, INDIA
  38. VH CONVENT, BAWAL, HARYANA, INDIA
  39. VH CONVENT EDATHALA, ALUVA, KERALA
  40. VH CONVENT, ELURU, A P, INDIA
  41. VH CONVENT, SHILONG, INDIA
  42. VH CONVENT, VEERAVASARAM, A.P , INDIA
  43. VIMALAMBIKA, KOTTARAKARA, KERALA
  44. VH CONVENT, RISDA, BHILASPUR , INDIA
  45. FIH KERALA PROVINCIALATE
  46. ANTONY’S CONVENT ,KOIVILA ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
  47. AROGYA MATHA CONVENT , BEACH ROAD ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
  48. ASSUMPTION CONVENT , CLAPPANA ,KOLLAM ,KERALA
  49. IHM CONVENT ,PATTATHANAM ,KOLLAM,KERALA
  50. KARMEL HOSTEL ,PATTATHANAM ,KERALA
  51. LITTLE FLOWER CONVENT ,SASTHAMCOTTA ,KERALA
  52. LOKARAKSHAKA CONVENT, ARINELLORE ,KERALA
  53. LOURDE MATHA CONVENT ,KOVILTHOTTAM ,KERALA
  54. MARGARETS CONVENT ,KANJIRACODE ,KERALA
  55. MARY’S CONVENT ,KUMBALAM ,KERALA
  56. MARY’S CONVENT, PORTKOLLAM ,KERALA
  57. S BALIKA SADANAM , KOTTIYAM KERALA
  58. SACRED HEART CONVENT ,KANDACHIRA ,KERALA
  59. STELLAMARIS CONVENT , THIRUMULLAVARAM ,KERALA
  60. V H CONVENT ,BALOTRA ,AJMER,INDIA
  61. V H CONVENT , FALNA ,AJMER ,INDIA
  62. V H CONVENT , KALA-AMB , HARYANA ,INDIA
  63. V H CONVENT , SAKTHIKULANGARA ,KERALA
  64. V H CONVENT , THAZHUTHALA ,KOTTIYAM ,KERALA
  65. V H CONVENT , AZHEEKAL ,KERALA
  66. FIH KARNATAKA PROVINCIAL HOUSE,BYRATHY, BENGALRU,INDIA
  67. ANTONY’S CONVENT, SANTHAVASAL,TAMIL NADU ,INDIA
  68. CARMALARAM , UDAYANKULANGARA, KERALA
  69. DUPUIS ‘ NIVAS ,KORBA, CHHATTISGARH,INDIA
  70. FIH CONVENT, KOLAR ,KARNATAKA, BENGALRU , INDIA
  71. I C CONVENT ,MUTHIAVILA ,TVM ,KERALA
  72. JOSEPH’S CONVENT , UCHAKKADA ,TVM KERALA
  73. JUDE BALIKASADANAM ,VIRALY ,KERALA
  74. SNEHA NIVAS ,KORBA , CHHATTISGARH , INDIA
  75. V H CONVENT , CHENGAM , TAMIL NADU,INDIA
  76. V H CONVENT , CHUNKANKADAI ,INDIA
  77. V H CONVENT , JAMTHARA ,INDIA
  78. VIMALALAYA ,BENGALRU ,INDIA
  79. XAVIER’S CONVENT ,PEYAD ,KERALA
  80. ODISHA MISSION ,SULLUDI