MSFS celebrates 175 years of service

The jubilee celebrations commenced with a Mass led by Archbishop Pennacchio.

Bangalore:  The Missionaries of St Francis De Sales (MSFS) celebrated 175 years of their foundation on Monday with its current superior general making a call to revive the teachings of Christ.

“The challenge of the Church today is to revive its vocation based on the teachings of Christ,” MSFS Superior General Father Abraham Vettuvelil told a gathering in Bangalore, which included papal representative in India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio.

The jubilee celebrations commenced with a Mass led by Archbishop Pennacchio along with Archbishops Bernard Moras of Bangalore and Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur and some 200 priests and an equal number of religious and laity.

On behalf of Pope Francis, Archbishop Pennacchio lauded the efforts of the MSFS missioners "for the commendable job they have accomplished in the field of education, family apostolate, and renewal ministry."

Both archbishops of Bangalore and Nagpur also were full of appreciation for the work done by MSFS missionaries in their and various dioceses of India.

Servant of God Peter Mary Mermier founded the congregation in 1838 in France and for the last 175 years it has grown to 10 provinces, six of them in India. Some 1,000 MSFS members run more than 100 educational and social service institutions in India.