Sisters of Mary Immaculate SMI have new Superior General
KOLKATA: 7th October 2005 -- On 3rd October, the Sisters of Mary Immaculate gathered for their seventh General Chapter at Krishnagar to elect Sister Lisette Thuruthimattam as their new Superior General. She succeeds Sr. Marie Pothanamala who had held the office for twelve years. Sr. Lisette was already serving as General Councillor for Formation.
The Congregation of the Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate Help of Christians, as the group is formally known, are members of the Salesian Family. They were founded in 1948 by Bishop Louis Morrow, although they actually did exist formally under a similar name: The Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate, founded in 1922 by the then PIME Bishop of Krishnagar. They had remained just a handful of girls in a Pious Union. The refounded group's charism is identified by their evangelisation and catechesis in a Salesian style, now spread over 56 or more communities throughout Asia, Africa, America and Europe. They are more than 560 in number.
Interestingly, the Sisters have a foundation in Italy in Udine, a dicoese which has sent many good missionaries to India, especially from the Colussi family (six from the one family as Salesian priests and a Sister). The Sisters see their presence as missionaries to this area as a missionary repayment!
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