Snehagiri Missionary Sisters is an indigenous religious community in the Syro-Malabar Church with a Specific Charism of Witnessing the compassionate love of Jesus among the poor and abandoned, deriving spiritual power and strength from the Holy Eucharist. Inspired by the words of Jesus Christ “Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me” (Mt. 25:40), the religious community of the Snehagiri (SMS) was founded in the diocese of Palai on 24th May 1969 by Rev. Fr. Abraham Kaippanplackal.
St. Thomas Province
The tree of Snehagiri sprouted and branched out. St. Thomas Province Pala, the 1st province of the congregation of Snehagiri Missionary Sisters is officially inaugurated on 3rd March 2008. The province is spread in the dioceses, Pala, Changanacherry, Trivandrum, Parassala, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta , Sangli Mission in Kalyan Gorakhpur Mission diocese. Thereafter, 7 provincial chapters were held. Sr. Saumitha was the first Provincial Superior of St. Thomas Province. She was eleced for second term of three years. In the next two Provincial Synaxis, Sr. Archana was elcted as the provincial. Thereafter in 2020 Rev. Sr. Carmel Geo is elected as the provincial suprior in the 4th and 6th Provincial Synaxis. Different provincial teams headed by these efficient Provincials, guided the province according to the wonderful plan of the Almighty God.
St. Thomas Province is the mother province of the congregation providing personals and most needy assistants. The charism of Snehagiri sprouted and grown up rooted in Pala and thus St. Thomas Province and her apostolic services remains as inspiration and boost to the tradition and culture of Snehagiri in to the other provinces and region.
The apostolate of this province is the upliftment of the least section of the society by running Homes for the destitutes, Cancer Care Homes, Social work, Parish work, Education, Press Ministry and the sisters are rendering wonderful services in various Ecclesial bodies like, Pastoral Institute, Office of diocesan press etc. A large number of sisters are dedicated themselves in the service of the poor. This Province has 16 Old Age Home, 3 Homes for children, 3 Homes for physically Challenged, 6 Home for Differently Abled, 3 Home for Mentally sick, 1 Cancer Care Home and 1 Special School. There are 44 convents in St. Thomas Province.
The sisters of our province are doing service in the three rites of Catholic Church in Kerala- Syro- Malabar, Syro- Malankara and Latin. There are 36 houses in Syro Malabar rite and the houses are extended in Pala, Chanaganacherry and Kalyan diocese in Maharastra. The 6 houses in Syro – Malankara diocese is spread out in Trivandrum, Mavelikkara and Pathanamthitta dioceses. The sisters of Santhinilayam Yendayar do service in the Latin parish at Yendayar in Vijayapuram diocese.
The presence and activities of sisters in the province could bring radical improvements in educational, cultural and social aspects of various villages in Kerala and Maharastra. The province celebrate its Province day on 3rd July. At present the province has 221 members in 39 Communities and in houses of abroad. By honoring all the previous Provincial Superiors and thanking the Lord with ardent love and gratitude, we owe to God the almighty for the successful journey of this province which continues.