The Year 2024 marks the 185th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, also called Fransalians, the international religious society of Fathers and Brothers responsible for the school.
The congregation was founded in 1838. The founder, Father Peter Mermier, was born in 1790. As a child he experienced terrorism by some extremists of the French Revolution. His parents were farmers, and his mother was a wonderful woman from whom he learnt to have faith in God, to face troubles with courage, and to help those made to suffer by the terrorists.
As a young man, Peter Mermier decided to dedicate his life to the service of God and others. As a priest, for some time he was put in charge of teaching and discipline in a residential school for boys. But he soon realized that his mission was to go from place to place helping young and old to live the ideals taught by Jesus and which St.Francis De Sales had practiced so well. Everyone should have faith in God who loves us and please Him by trying to live a life of gentleness, cheerfulness, kindness, patience, forgiveness, readiness to help people in any kind of need. It was to spread these ideals that the Fransalians were founded. In reply to an appeal made by the Pope, six Fransalians, four Priests and two Brothers, landed in India in 1845, only seven years after the founding of the society. Over the years they were joined by other dedicated and courageous men.
The Fransalians were asked to work in eastern and central India. Beginning at Visakhapatnam, they opened centres in places as far as Cuttack, Aurangabad and Nagpur. They had to travel long distances on horseback or by bullock cart. They took care of people affected by famine or suffering from various diseases. They started social centres, dispensaries, and orphanages. They gave special attention to the education of the youth. They taught people to trust in God and to live in peace and Joy. At present the Fransalians are working in different parts of India running social service centers and schools, both academic and technical, in urban and rural areas. They help people to live happy lives founded on 'Faith in God' and 'Concern for the welfare of others'. While respecting all religions and cultures, the Fransalians make it their mission to hold aloft the ideals taught by Jesus, which were an inspiration to Gandhiji, and made specially attractive by St.Francis de Sales, leading Father Peter Mermier to found the Fransalian Society.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to Constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens; JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this Twenty Sixth Day of November 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.