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Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (Guanellians)
Delegation of Mary Most Holy of the Assumption
Our History
History of the Congregation of
Daughters of St. Mary of providence (DSMP) In India
India is a land rich in its heritage and marked by picturesque landscape, mighty rivers flowing through fertile soil, and a variety of flora and fauna. It is distinguished to be one of the world's oldest civilizations, and represents a multi-layered confluence of religions, customs, and traditions. It’s highlight lies in the supremacy of its art, architecture, classical dance, music, natural habitat, lifestyle, secularism, the festival which brings out their tradition, the freedom of speech, the beautiful tradition of draping a saree, including the classical dance that teaches us the value of it and the Hindustani music that centers on the swing of the springs.
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It is to this beautiful land that Don Luigi Guanella desired to come 100’s of years ago to bring the good news that God is our Providential Father who loves us and cares for us. The dreams of St.Luigi Guanella to come to India became a reality in our era through his sons and daughters. In all modesty, we recount the history of our Congregation in India. And as we trace back, we marvel at the intervention of Divine Providence in using us to bring to fulfilment His Divine plan.
St.Louis Guanella, Our Founder
Louis Guanella was born in Fraciscio di Campodolcino in Val San Giacomo (Sondrio in Italy) on 19 th December 1842.
On the solemn day of His ordination, he took the motto that his plan of life was to “be a sword of fire in the ministry of charity”. During the early life of his priestly ministry, he took many efforts to help his people, becoming “everything for everyone”. He dedicated himself zealously to young people in helping them, in their schooling and revitalising their Catholic life.
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Welcoming the calls of Providence, he founded two congregations: for the women, “Daughters of St. Mary of Providence” and for the men “Servants of Charity” who are all working in different parts of the world. He encouraged his confreres and his sisters to work unsparingly with zeal and enthusiasm. He said, “Charity in all things…It cannot be stopped as long as there are poor people to serve and the needy to be cared for… The whole world is your homeland!”
In 1886, Fr. Guanella’s desire became a reality. He opened the first residential school in Como, Italy, for these beloved “Good children”. In Pianello, Como he founded the House of Divine Providence which is called the ‘Cradle of the Congregation’’, at the center of which he built a Shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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As the work of Fr. Guanella grew and multiplied, his thirsts for doing good all the more abounded.
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He sent his priests and sisters to different parts of Italy and gradually to different parts of the world to begin the mission to serve the needy brethren. He also had a dream of coming to India. But before he could realize it, he reached God’s abode on 24th October 1915. His dream to begin the works of charity in India came true after 100 years in 1986.
First Indian in the Guanellian Community (13th Apr, 1986)
Divine providence enabled Fr. Stephen Fernandes to meet, the first candidate, John Bosco who had already advanced in his studies and formation with Claretian Fathers. With due permission from his superiors, he agreed to join the Congregation of Servants of Charity, and then worked for the foundation of the first home in India. At the same time, the Congregation was able to contact the Archbishop of Madras, Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Madurai and Tuticorin, all of whom were glad to welcome the Congregation into their respective dioceses to begin the opera Don Guanella. Thus Don Guanella’s dream was fulfilled by the arrival of the Congregation in India on April 13th , 1986.
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Soon several young students followed John Bosco to Rome. In India, with the kind help of Fr. Stephen Fernando, Fr. Lucas and Fr. Vincent Ferrar, an affectionate friend of the Diocese of Kumbakonam, the small group of seminarians were recruited.
Fr. Tito Credaro - The First Guanellian priest’s visit to India
Few events paved the way for the initial foundations in India. On 3 rd July 1986, Fr. Tito Credaro the Provincial Superior of St. Joseph Roman Province, Italy, of Servants of Charity, arrived India accompanied by Bro.John Bosco on the Feast of St.Thomas. They stayed in Madras as the guests in the Provincialate of the Salesians and visited some Historical places. They held the first Vocation Camp in Madurai for aspiring candidates for the Servants of Charity. Fr.Tito could not resist the summer heat of Madurai. He cut short his visit and entrusted all the appointments and works to Bro.John Bosco and returned to Italy.
Fr. Domenico Saginario
Fr.Domenico Saginario who succeeded Fr.Tito as a New Provincial, took a lot of initiatives to bring the Guanellian mission in the Indian soil. He was a prophet and a visionary. We could honorably call him as the Founder of Our Mission in India. He had such an unquenchable missionary zeal. As our Founder, he too cherished the desire to be a missionary in India. And the dream has come true.
On 25th January 1987, Fr.Domenico Saginario along with Bro. John Bosco arrived Madras and visited the Diocese of Madurai, Tuticorin, Kumbakonam, Cuddalore, Pondi, Salem and Vellore. They met their Seminarians who were studying in the Diocesan Seminaries. They met their Bishops and Priests exploring possibility of our presence in India. At the same time, Fr.Domenico explored the possibilities to bring the Guanellian Sisters in India and along with Bro. John Bosco, he spoke with the Bishop of Tuticorin and thus the Bishop asked his priests to take them to St.Mary’s College run by the Servite sisters. There they met 2 aspirants in the college. But unfortunately they never turned up. Indeed God has His own ways.
Providence opened the way through Fr. Vincent Ferrer
In the Diocese of Kumbakonam, many aspiring candidates joined the Servants of Charity. Fr.Vincent Ferrer who was then the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Thennur and also the Correspondent of Annai Lourdu Higher Secondary School was a well-known friend of Bro. John Bosco. And the sisters who were working in the School (Sisters of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary) were much familiar with Bro.John Bosco .Thus they gave a warm welcome to Fr.Domenico and Bro. John Bosco. Thus Fr. Domenico took initiative to bring the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in India and spoke with the Sisters working in the School and Fr.Vincent Ferrer. They met few girls who expressed their desire to join the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence. By a great surprise, one of them was a teacher. It is none other than Sr.Victoria William one of the first seeds of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence. She was working as a teacher in the School.
God’s intervention through Mons. Selvanathan
Fr.Vincent, Bro.John Bosco, Sr.Alfonsa, Sr.Bruno Mary and Sr.Eutychia ,all of them went to Pondicherry to meet the Archbishop Mons.Selva Nathan and seek his help in order to open the house for DSMP in India. Mons.Selva Nathan and Sr.Emilia Mary who was then the Mother General of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Pondicherry , were brother and sister. Fr.Domenico presented the request before them to help our sisters in the initial formation of the candidates by lending two of their sisters. They accepted and asked for some time to think over for this kind of collaboration. After a very hectic schedule and fruitful visits on 11 th Feb 1987, Fr.Domenico returned to Rome. In the month of April of the same year, Fr. Domenico received a letter from The Mother General of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother Emelia who accepted the proposal and would offer 2 of her sisters for this collaboration- Sr.Alphonsamma and Sr.Barnabas Ubagari. She was also ready to put to our disposal one portion of one of their convents in Bangalore for the initial Formation of our candidates.
First Visit of the Guanellian Sisters in India
The much awaited day came for the sisters too. With due preparations and prayers, Mother Elena Salarici, the then Mother General of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence and Sr. Imelda Malovan, the Vicar General, Fr.Piero Lippoli and Bro.John bosco left for India. On 20th June 1987, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, they reached Madras and resided in the Archbishop’s House.
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First vocation camp was conducted for the girls at Madurai, in which were present Mother Elena Salarici and the Vicar Sr. Imelda Malovan, Sr. Barnabas and few other fathers were present for the interview. Through this camp the first 9 candidates were selected . Later, the sisters and fathers reached Thennur. Fr.Vincent Ferrer as usual gave a warm welcome and organised a cultural programme for them. There the Sisters met Ms.Victoria William who was aspiring to join the DSMP sisters. She was a teacher working in the Parish School. She confirmed her willingness to Mother Elena Salarici. Then the Sisters went to meet theArchbishop of Pondicherry, Mons.Selvanathan and thank him for his great favour.
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Everywhere they were accorded with warm welcome and hospitality. Mother Elena Salarici returned to Rome on 7th July1987. Mother Imelda Malovan travelled to Bangalore to make necessary arrangements to welcome the 1st group of candidates for the initial formation and went to meet the Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev. Alphonse Mathias and wrote a request letter seeking permission to begin our Congregation in India. The request was accepted by the Archbishop of Bangalore and the permission was granted to start the Congregation in the Diocese of Bangalore, in the Parish of the Holy Ghost Church.
The First Indian seeds
On 21st July 1987, the candidates gathered together in Pondicherry, to travel to Bangalore with Sr.Imelda Malovan,Dsmp, Sr.Barnabas Ubakari, FIHM (Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary), Bro.John Bosco, SdC and Fr.Vincent Ferrer. On 22 nd July 1987, they reached the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent at Davis Road, Bangalore. Sr.Alphonsa and Sr.Barnabas welcomed the sisters with garland. The first group of candidates were Betci Clara, Victoria, Scholastica, Maria Pushpam, Lawrence Mary ,Josephine Mary, Lourdu mary,Margaret and Maria Arockiam. They were given formation in Spirituality, Church History, Lives of Saints etc. Among them three candidates were selected to go to Rome. They were Betci Clara and Victoria who were teachers and Scholastica who was a social worker.
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Later in 1988, a house 4/1, John Armstrong Road, Richard’s Town, Bangalore was purchased for us in the name of the Archbishop of Bangalore, since we had not yet registered as a ‘Society’ here in Bangalore, Karnataka. This is the beginning of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence in India.
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At that time, as we did not have Indian sisters trained for formation, Sr. Barnabas Ubakari, FIHM (1988–1993) was appointed as the Formator, with Sr. Alphonsa, FIHM (1987–1990), and Sr. Amalorpavam, FIHM (1991–1993) as her assistants. Mother Imelda Malovan frequently visited India to oversee the formation process, as they were permitted entry only under a tourist visa.
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From 1987 to 1993, many Aspirants were formed in India and sent to Rome for further formation. On 15th August 1990, Sr. Betci Clara Mary Moses, Sr. Victoria William and Sr. Scholastica made their First Profession in Lipomo, Diocese of Como, Italy.
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On 27th July 1993, Sr.Erina Berzovini was sent to India as Delegata ad personum in Collaboration with Sr.Victoria William. Thence forth, Vocation Promotion,Formation , ways and means of expanding the Congregation were taken care by our Sisters.
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On 16th September 2009, Sr.Erina Berzovini reached the eternal abode. After the death of Sr.Erina Berzovini, Sr.Victoria William continued the responsibility of Sr.Erina. On 19th March 2012, Sr. Victoria William was officially assigned as ‘ Delegata ad personum’ along with 2 Councillors Sr. Betci Clara and Sr.Maria Pushpam.
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On 7th October 2015, The Delegation of Mary Most Holy of the Assumption was erected.
On 12th November 2015, was the installation of the First Delegation Council with Sr. Victoria William as the Delegate Superior and Sr. Betci Clara, Sr. Jeyamalini, Sr. Mary Chinnappan and Sr. Emelda as the Council Members.
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On 28th January 2022, was the installation of the Second Delegation Council with Sr. Mary Chinnappan, as the Delegate Superior and Sr. Jeyamalini, Sr.Maria Claudia, Sr. Savariammal and Sr. M. Arockia Mary as the Council Members and Sr.Madhalai Mary as the Delegate Econome.
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As we trace the history of the Delegation of Mary Most Holy of the Assumption, we thank and appreciate all the Guanellian fathers for their spiritual assistance, collaboration in living and carrying out our apostolate. We thank and appreciate all our pioneer sisters especially for forming these many sisters and communities in India which has facilitated to help and serve our needy brethren. We cherish the people involved and the events recorded as they hold great significance for our history.
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‘In your Providence is our Hope’
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