The Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters (SNDS) was started in the year 1971 in the Diocese of Trichur, Mar Joseph Kundukulam, the then Bishop of the Diocese, being its Founder, and Very. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Vilangadan its Co-Founder. The Founding Fathers, being inspired by the Spirit blowing where it wills, wanted to give birth to a consecrated community dedicated solely to the service of those who are orphaned and derelict in the society. This community, with Mary the Immaculate Mother and Virgin for its model and patroness, was begun with 14 members at St. Christina’s Home, Pullazhy, Thrissur. Initially, it was started as a Pious Union under the title, “The Community of Nirmala Dasis.” The Founding Fathers themselves taught and trained the first members to spend their lives in poverty, simplicity, and obedience, being ready to be led in all matters by the words of Jesus, our Master, “whatever services you did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt.25:40). They also wanted the first sisters to be imbued with gratitude towards Him, who, “though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor, so that by His poverty we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9) and who “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”(Mt.20:28). On December 8, 1980, this community was raised by Bishop Mar Joseph Kundukulam to the status of a Society of Common life. 

This community gave a prompt response to the call of the Master to serve his poor anywhere in the world by attempting to own the words of  Mother Mary: “Behold, here I am, the handmaid of the Lord!” Down the years, it could promote and extend the various services of its members and houses at different places both inside and outside India. On November 23, 2006, the Society was raised to Major Archiepiscopal Status by the then Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil with the consent of the permanent Synod.

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Heavenly Patroness: 
Mother Mary Immaculate is our heavenly Patroness. Our patroness Feast is on December 8th.

 

The motto of the Society:
The motto of this Society is “Yes Lord, Here I am.” The prime insight of our Mission is to serve Christ in the most abandoned section of the society, the poor, the sick, and the destitute without any discrimination of caste creed language, or religion.

 

Strength: 
260 professed sisters spread out in different states of India, and abroad, including the desert of Kenya (Africa), and in a village of Hungary. We are working in 48 communities under 15 Dioceses. The sisters are working in Kerala under the diocese’s of Thrissur, Palakkad, Thamarssery, and Irinjalakuda, in Andhra Pradesh, in Maharashtra, in Africa, in Hungary, and in Germany. We have only 11 service centers in and out of the country for the neglected and downtrodden of the community as our own except three formation Centers and a general House.

 

Activities: 
Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters is a community that undertakes most needed humanitarian services in the diocese as per the directions of the local Ordinaries. Our mission is centered on the service of the destitute babies, unwed mothers, lepers, mentally and physically challenged persons, persons living with HIV/AIDS, drug addicts, aged people, slum dwellers, and mentally ill people. We try to find Christ in the less privileged and marginalized in society. Apart from this, we also extend our services to various parish ministries by availing ourselves for family visits, Teaching Catechism, Awareness Classes for women and children, etc. Our main source of income is the financial support we receive from our well-wishers and donor agencies. 

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Administration Pattern:

Superior General

Councilors - 4

• Social Work

• Mission

• Financial Administrator

• Health

Secretary-General

Regional Superiors

Regional Councilors

Local Superiors