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Fransalian International

"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

Editorial  Introducing the MSFS St. Francis de Sales  Fr. Peter Memier MSFS in St. Lucia  Fr. Louis Favre General Assembly 1997  Wellspring Fransalian Media Centre  Suvidya College     VISAKHAPATNAM PROVINCE Congress of the FRANCE-SWISS PROVINCE NAGPUR PROVINCE PUNE PROVINCE SOUTH-WEST PROVINCE NORTH-EAST INDIA TANZANIA Vol. 1  January 1999

Fransalian International

Through Father Peter Mermier, the Lord gave to the Church two religious Congregations: the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, MSFS also known as the Fransalians, and the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod.  We present here the first part of his long and eventful life.

The only Primary School Peter attended was the one conducted in the house by his mother, for her own three children and a few from the neighbourhood. The faith and courage of his dear mother, and of the "underground" Priests, greatly influenced the young Peter Mermier. Thus, at a time of persecution, the call came to him to dedicate his life to the service of God and of His people. Religious peace returned to Savoy in 1800, under Napoleon, when Peter was 10. Soon it became possible for him to start his Secondary School studies as a boarder. Later he completed his formation at the Major Seminary and was ordained Parish Priest in 1813, when he was nearly 23. His first appointment was as Assistant Parish Priest. After three years, he was asked to teach and be Prefect of Discipline at the boarding School where he had studied.

When Fr. Mermier was about 30, he was appointed Parish Priest of a large Parish. It was here that the Lord disclosed to him his life's mission. Fr. Mermier realised that most of the people were indifferent to Catholic Faith and practice. This was due to the influence of Jansenism which discouraged people from receiving the Sacraments frequently. Eve more, it was the result of the lack of religious instruction during the persecution following the French Revolution.

With the permission of the Bishop, they went from parish to parish. Staying from 4 to 6 weeks in each parish, they prayed and preached to build up the people's knowledge of the Faith. They motivated the people receive the Sacraments regularly as well as to strive to live genuine Christian lives.

It was not long before Fr. Mermier felt the need of a Religious Congregation meant exclusively for the ministry of Parish Missions.

In 183S, he decided to form a community of religious Priests who would work together as a team of friends preaching Missions in the parishes of Savoy.  In this project, Fr. Mermier was given every encouragement by Bishop Peter Rey of Annecy, who was a successor and admirer of St. Francis de Sales. On 24th October 1838, Bishop Rey officially established the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. He told Fr. Mermier and his first five Priest companions: "Your duties can be stated briefly: Study St. Francis de Sales. Imitate his virtues. Form your method of guiding people on his - full of gentleness towards sinners."

Besides founding the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales to preach Parish Missions, the Lord led Fr. Mermier to discern and take up with the courage and determination three other challenging tasks:

• founding the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod for the education of needy girls;

• asking the Holy Father for a mission abroad and accepting a vast mission territory in India, within seven years of the foundation of the Congregation;

• at the request of the Bishop of Annecy, accepting the management of two Secondary Schools.

Fr. Mermier was a man of zeal, sacrificing himself for others, because he was a man of prayer and close to the Lord. He invites each one of us to be like him a man of zeal and a man of prayer.

In one of his Circulars, he says:

Fr. Armind Nazareth msfs