India
La Salette Matha Province, India: A Journey of Faith, Mission, and Hope
The story of the La Salette Matha Province in India
is a remarkable example of God’s providence, missionary vision, and the enduring strength of faith. What started as a small effort to encourage vocations has developed into a lively missionary province that continues to share the message of reconciliation entrusted by Our Lady of La Salette.
The origins of this mission trace back to February 1978 when Rev. Fr. Efren Musngi, M.S., Provincial Superior of the Philippine Vice-Province, attended a gathering of Asian Major Superiors in Bangalore. During that visit, he met the late Cardinal Antony Padiyara, Archbishop of Changanacherry, who warmly invited the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette to establish a presence in India and pledged his support to promote vocations. With the approval of the General Council, the responsibility for the new mission was entrusted to the Philippine Province.
Responding generously to this invitation,
Rev. Frs. Orlando Sapuay, M.S., and William Slight, M.S., initiated the first vocation campaign in Kerala in 1979. Their efforts yielded immediate results. The first Indian candidates—Mathew Manjaly, Augustine Cheerakathil, and Philip Pazhayachira—began their formation in the Philippines. A significant milestone was reached on 1 May 1981, when Jose Kuzhinjalil, M.S., and Joseph Punnakunnel, M.S., became the first Indian Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette to take religious vows. A few years later, on 5 December 1985, Fr. Andrews Kollannoor, M.S., became the first Indian La Salette priest, marking a new chapter in the congregation's history in India.
The active presence
of the Congregation in India began on May 31, 1988, when Fr. Jose Kuzhinjalil, M.S., took on responsibility for St. Joseph’s Church, Vamanapuram, in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum. Soon after, he was joined by Fr. Joseph Punnakunnel, M.S., and together they started promoting vocations and seminary formation. In 1989, Fr. Andrews Kollannoor, M.S., joined the mission, helping to strengthen the growing community. Thanks to the generosity of benefactors and the dedication of the missionaries, the first community residence, La Salette Bhavan at Parakkadavu, Kerala, was established and blessed on August 17, 1990.
As vocations increased and ministries expanded,
the mission gradually matured. In October 2001, the Indian mission was promoted to a Region called La Salette Matha Region, with Rev. Fr. Mathew Manjaly, M.S., serving as its first Regional Superior. The growth persisted, and in May 2006, the Region became the La Salette Matha Province. During the First Provincial Chapter in January 2007, Rev. Fr. Andrews Kollannoor, M.S., was elected as the first Provincial Superior, marking the start of a new era of self-governance and missionary growth.
Starting from a single parish in Kerala in 1988, the Province has grown into a vibrant missionary community serving the Church through formation houses, educational institutions, parish ministries, retreat and counseling centers, social outreach programs, and missionary apostolates. Today, the Province has a significant presence in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, touching countless lives through its ministry of reconciliation.
The missionary spirit that inspired the Province’s pioneers continues to thrive. Beyond India, members of the Province now serve in North America, Australia, Germany, Italy, France, and Tanzania. In diverse cultures and challenging pastoral settings, they witness to the charism of reconciliation and carry the message of Our Lady of La Salette to people worldwide.
The growth of the La Salette Matha Province is more than just a story of numbers or institutions. It is a story of brave missionaries who answered God’s call, generous benefactors who believed in the mission, dedicated formators who nurtured vocations, and countless faithful who embraced the spirituality of reconciliation. Their sacrifices and dedication have turned a small beginning into a vibrant missionary community.
Today, the La Salette Matha Province stands as a living witness to what God can achieve through faith, perseverance, and a willingness to serve. As it looks toward the future with gratitude and hope, the Province remains committed to proclaiming the Gospel and fulfilling the appeal of Our Blessed Mother at La Salette: “Make this known to all my people.”
Inspired by its rich heritage and empowered by new generations of missionaries, the Province advances with confidence, carrying the mission of reconciliation to a world that yearns for healing, peace, and hope.