Thanjavur Province
The Institute of Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, took root in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, the
Southern part of India at the invitation extended by Msgr. Bottero, the then Bishop of the newly erected Diocese
Kumbakonam on 25 th March 1900. Soon after the foundation two dispensaries were opened, one in the house
itself, the other in the cross roads of the town. The Bishop asked our sisters to take charge of the Old Age Home
established in the compound of the Cathedral. He also entrusted to them a group of 15 orphan girls. The
beginning of the mission was very difficult as our sisters were ignorant of the language, customs and habits of
the people especially the caste system which was prevalent in Kumbakonam.
On 15 th October 1965, this one province was bifurcated into 3 provinces, Nagpur, Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu province was registered according to Government Society Registration Act on 29 th January 1972.
Tamil Nadu Province
The Tamil Nadu Province was formed on 15 th October 1965 with Mother Marie Francois as the first
Provincial. She stayed in Tharangambadi. In 1968 General Chapter Sr.Therese Luc was elected as provincial
and she resided at Holy Angels’ Convent at Kumbakonam. Later Tamil Nadu also fabricated in to two
provinces Salem and Thanjavur. The initiative of Thanjavur Province is Fatima Charitable Society.
OUR MISSION
EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY
- Admitting Catholic / Marginalized
Our first preference in admitting students’ in our institute is, for the poor, marginalized, Catholic children
of our diocese, in order to bring transformation in the society as well as to endow them with dignity, status,
competences and upward mobility.
We provide education to all, irrespective of caste and creed so as to express our solidarity and our
commitment to justice, equality and love for all.
We give ‘equality education’ to all. Thus we express that education serves as a powerful instrument for
empowerment. - Faith Formation
As education, by its very nature is a transformative process, we give more importance to teach Catechism
and Value Education which enables to see life as a vocation and as a gift.
By conducting assembly, prayers and celebration of the festivals of other religions, the students learn to
encounter with God and to respond to the call of faith. This nurtures in the students to live a meaningful life,
to have purpose and personalized values including appreciation of other faiths.
For Catholic students, besides Catechism classes, meaningful Eucharistic celebrations are organized.
Quiz program and various competitions are conducted based on Word of God.
HEALING MINISTRY
Awareness programs
Awareness programs is being conducted to instruct preventive and curative methods and means for major issues
like HIV/AIDS, Anemia, Health and hygiene, Natural family planning, Pro-life, Nature cure, Healthy food
habits etc. Sex education, healthy friendship, facts of life is the issues taken for awareness program to the school
children.
Free medical camps
This is for the poor and those who are deprived of medical facility and also for the school children. In these
camps, medical checkups and treatments are provided. Identified major cases are referred to proper medical
centers. Follow up brings effective results.
Pro – life program
Counseling is given to promote life. In established hospitals, Cassettes and CDs on health issues and pro-life are
screened as the patients are in the waiting room for the doctor. The value of life, the risks and dangers of
abortion are insisted through the media.
Rural Health Care Service
Most of our village communities have Health care centers to attend to the health needs of villagers. They have
visiting doctors and small lab for ordinary tests. In village communities sisters go to attend the medical needs of
the bed ridden patients and aged people in their homes.
Developing Hospitals in Town areas
Better equipped hospitals with modern facilities like Scan, Laparoscopy, Operation Theatre, Incubator, Fetal
monitor are at town areas to attend to the health needs of the people. Accordingly multi specialty doctors are
appointed.
Holistic health care to Lepers
We give Treatment, Physiotherapy and skin care to the patients in Sacred heart Leprosy Hospital
Kumbakonam. There is a School within the Campus for their children’s education.
SOCIO CUM PASTORAL MINISTRY
- Home for children
Following the spirit of St. Francis De sales who devoted himself for the poor and needy we render
our service to the poor children of our schools through homes for children. The beneficiaries of our home for
children are from the remote villages where there are no transport facilities. We have 6 Homes for children in
our province that are situated in Kulumur, Kokkudi, Pasupathikoil, Koothavakkam, Poondi and Tharangambadi.
The biggest of them all is in Tharangambadi which is also the biggest in the State of Tamil Nadu with 750
children.
- Day care centre
We have two day care centers for the poor children below 5 years. As the children are cared by us
during the day, the parents are freed to go to earn their daily living. - Home for the aged
In this modern era, where the aged parents are not taken care of, we give asylum to them in order to
fulfill their physical, spiritual, material and psychological needs. We prepare them for their peaceful home
reaching. We have three homes for the aged. - Assistance for Professional course
In the province level every year we provide financial help for professional education for five poor deserving
students. - Relief work
In times of Natural Disaster, the people of our locality are provided economical and relief assistance.
Pastoral Ministry
We plan and work in collaboration with the parish priest. We take every opportunity to educate women
with the view to make them “Apostles of the Gospels and share with them our Salesian Spirituality”. (Sons and
daughters).
We take catechism on Sundays in the Church. We prepare children for first communion and the couple
for marriage, rectification of the marriages too.
We take interest in Basic Christian Communities.
During summer vacation, some of the communities take part in Vacation Bible School.
We take care of the problematic and disintegrated Christian families through family visits and
counseling.
Prison ministry:
In collaboration with the Diocese of Kumbakonam, we get involved in prison ministry. Visiting the prisoners in
Jail, helping to take them in bail, visiting their families, rendering financial assistance for their children’s
education, counseling and praying for them are some of our activities.
The following Activities are done by Fatima Charitable Society:
Birth of Fatima Charitable Society Tamil Nadu
Fatima Charitable Society Tamil Nadu is a humble initiative of Sisters of Salesian Missionaries of Mary
Immaculate to serve the poor, women and underprivileged sections of the society. During the course of our
lived experience, we noticed that most of the rural population especially women, continued to be enslaved by
other forms of oppression like object poverty, caste rivalry, religious bigotry and social exclusion etc. To work
in collaboration with the Government and to under take Government schemes, the society of Mary Immaculate
discerned to form a separate Unit called “Fatima Charitable Society Tamil Nadu” (FACS). Since its inception,
FACS has been engaged in the intervention of the development and empowerment for women, widows, and
victims of HIV/ AIDS, Children and aged persons, socially and economically weaker and vulnerable segments
of the society. Now it is a people-based service organization, extending a helping hand to the poorest of the
poor through implementing welfare-oriented and developmental programs, so that they may be able to receive
and taste the fruits of these programs. They able to obtain the things that were denied to them and kept beyond
their reach.
Our Services
Fatima Community College
Fatima Community College: Fatima Community College is started to provide professional skill
training to the poverty stricken girls who are utterly uncertain of their future. Health Assistant
Program is undertaken. This program is in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Open University,
Chennai.
WIDOWS & DESERTED WOMEN ASSOCIATION
We gather widows & form them as an association [Widows & Deserted women’s welfare Association]. We
enable them to be aware of their rights in the society and in the family as they are ill treated in the name of
rituals and tradition. We also form them as different groups for their economical development and for the social
change. We have reached out nearly 300 widows in different places. We support them economically for small
scale business like, flower market, Goat rearing, fish market, vegetable cultivation and candle preparation.
Skill Training for widows and orphans
Widows and Orphans are concentrated for income generating skill program such as tailoring and
handicrafts. We avail tailoring machines from local sources to the trained widows for their livelihood. At
present Tamil Nadu Open University has entrusted to us one year free course on Diploma in Fashion
Designing and Garment making for widows & orphans. Thirty- four members are benefiting in this scheme.
HIV/AIDS RELATED PROGRAM
Support Group Meeting
HIV/ AIDS RelatedProgram: One Twenty HIV/ AIDS affected and infected families are partially supported
for their family maintenances, health care, clothing and 103 Children benefiting School education, 3 are doing
their College Studies, and 5 are getting professional training.
De – addiction program
Since 2010 De – addiction treatment is given to the alcoholic addicted people. We get medicine from
Vishwodaya Nagpur. Our feedback proves that 80% of them are computably freed from drinking habit.
JEEVAN JOTHI HOME FOR ORPHAN CHILDREN (Pattinankurichy)
We have started a Home for Children in Patinamkurchi. Orphan and semi orphans are helped by this
institution. At present there are 25 children who are accommodated residentially. We give special care for their
health, education & social needs.