Our Congregation of the “Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate Help of Christians”, commonly known as Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI) was founded by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, SDB, fourth Bishop of Krishnagar, West Bengal, India. It was founded with the purpose of Evangelization and Catechesis through home visitation and village apostolate with the motto, “To love God and help others to love God.”

Responding to the pressing needs of the time, and especially to meet the pastoral demands of his diocese of Krishnagar Bishop Morrow founded the congregation. He clearly saw the necessity of educated religious women to work among the women of his diocese as priests could not reach out to the women easily in their homes. He wanted a group of sisters to visit homes in towns and villages. God in his own time raised our congregation on 12 December 1948 on the feast of our Lady of Guadelupe, a day dear to our Father Founder. Mother Mary was givento us as our model, therefore the name, Sisters of Mary Immaculate, officially known as Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate, Help of Christians.
Charism of SMI (Spiritual and Apostolic)

Our Father Founder has marked for us the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood of St Therese of Child Jesus as our way of union with God, which we call the spiritual charism. Our apostolic charism is Evangelization and Catechesis carried through home visitation and village tours.

Our Mother House

Our first house – the Mother House and Novitiate , a tin roofed house was blessed on 30 June, 1950 by our Father Founder, which served the needs of the sisters and novices till April 1991.Later it was demolished and rebuilt. (photo of original and present).

General Chapters and Superior Generals

First General Chapter 7-11 July 1964
Superior General Sr Teresina Gonsalves
Second General Chapter (in two phases) May 1975, May-June 1976
Superior General Sr Mary Chalissery
Third General Chapter 7 June -5 July 1981
Superior General Sr Mary Chalissery (re elected)
Fourth General Chapter 1 October -3 November 1987
Superior General Sr Pieta Manavalan
Fifth General Chapter 1 – 14 October 1993
Superior General Sr Marie Pothanamala
Sixth General Chapter 1 – 16 October 1999
Superior General Sr Marie Pothanamala (re elected)
Seventh General Chapter 1 – 7 October 2005
Superior General SrLisetteThuruthimattam
Eighth General Chapter 1 – 12 October 2011
Superior General SrLisetteThuruthimattam (re elected)
Ninth General Chapter 1 – 12October 2017
Superior General Sr Dina Vellamaruthunkal.

A Brief History of Guwahati (Provincial House), Rukminigaon, Assam

Foundation: October 2006
The beginning was in 2004 that Sr. Lisette Thuruthimattam, our Superior General and her team, with their far-sighted vision for a new province initiated the purchase of a bigha of land at Rukminigaon, P.S. Dispur, along the Guwahati-Shillong National Highway for our new Provincial House, and the registration was done on 23rd June 2004.

The foundation stone was laid by his grace, Most Rev. Thomas Menamparampil, the Archbishop of Guwahati in October 2006. Srs. Melanie Vadakemury, the Provincial Superior of Kolkata Province and Sr. Lorraine, the provincial councilor and economer were present along with our sisters from Debdaru Path. The diligent supervision of Sr. Regis Savarimuthu, the General Councillor and the hard work of Sr. Linette Kalayathinal, the local superior of Debdaru path community, made it possible to complete the house within a record time. We extend our gratitude to Sr. Lisette Thuruthimattam, our Superior General, Sr. Melanie, the Provincial Superior for initiating the formation and erection of this new Province and the community. Guwahati Province was bifurcated from Kolkata Province; at the time of erection, it consisted of eleven communities.

Inauguration, blessing, and erection of the house and the installation – 24th May 2008. It was the birth of our fifth Province, of Guwahati, an event that the SMI family expectantly looked forward to. We were nearly 200 gathered for this celebration, among whom were present most of our sisters from Northeast region, Sisters from our Generalate, Kolkata and Delhi and many well wishers and friends too participated in the celebration

The day began with an hour before the Eucharistic Lord, thanking Him for the new Province. His grace Most Rev. Thomas Menamparampil, the then Archbishop of Guwahati blessed house. It was followed by the Eucharistic celebration in the new chapel. Along with the Archbishop there were his grace Andrew Marak of Tura and 23 priests from Northeast region to concelebrate the holy Mass. Sr. Lisette accompanied by Sr. Sharlene Pulickal, the newly appointed Provincial Superior and her councilors, Srs. Madeline Miranda, Linette Kalayathinal and Jancy Francis went in entrance procession carrying lighted candles symbolizing their life of service to the sisters entrusted to their care.

The erection of the new Province was done by Sr. Lisette after the homily by reading the decree of Canonical Erection; she then installed Sr. Sharlene Pulickal as its Provincial Superior through a commissioning prayer. The whole congregation extended their right hand in prayer after which Sr. Sharlene thanked everyone present.

Sr. Lisette Thuruthimattam installed Sr. Madeline Miranda as the first local Superior of our Provincial House in the evening.
First members of the newly erected Provincial House: Srs. Sharlene Pulickal, Madeline Miranda, Jancy Francis, Jocelyn Kunnathu, Miriam BarketMasih, PribolaNarzary, Asha Panna, Arockia Michael and Yamuna Arokyadoss.

First Provincial superior and her team
Srs. Sharlene Pulickal (First Provincial Superior), Madeline Miranda (First Councillor), Linette Kalyathinal (Councillor and Economer) Jancy Francis (Councillor and Secretary)

Activities: Co-ordination of the Province, Pastoral ministry, Administration of NECHA and Snehalaya for Child Rights, Prison ministry, Home visits, Study of Sisters and Candidates and Vocation promotion.