Integral and wholistic developement of youth through quality education to create awareness of human dignity,grnder equality and forming them to be effective leaders.
Every Congregation is a gift of God in the history of its birth in this world. In the 15th Century the church in France was very much influenced by the writings of an eminent personality St. Francis De sales. Later in 18th century a diocesan priest by name Fr. Henry Chamount deeply touched by the spirituality of SFS began to spread the same among the laity in France. He sowed the seed of a group that has spread over the universe under the banner of Daughters of St. Francis de Sales (DSFS). Mother Marie Gertrude valiant woman of faith answering a special call from the newly erected diocese of Nagpur, along with the four pioneers reached Nagpur in India in 1889 as missionaries to spread God's Love to the people with a great desire to work for the upliftment of Indian women. As desired by the Founder they were known as CMMI which title later on took the name (Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate)
The Providential plan of God brought them (SMMI) to Kumbakonam in South India in 1900. Since then we have spread to different places in Tamil Nadu. It was in 1901 the SMMI reached Tharangambadi, the place being under the care of Kumbakonam Diocese. The invitation of the church, represented by Bishops brought us to these places.
The journey began in the year 1901. The mission is one of the oldest, the co-founderss MMG herself laying foundation in this seashore soil. The noble cause of education, the upliftment of the under privileged, the tender care of the orphan children, the development of women of all ages, the ongoing process of growth of people around, such were the salient features of the service of the sisters to the people whom they began to serve. Being a centre of fisher folk village, sisters right from the early days took it up as their priority, to promote the well being of every family and brought them up at all levels. All this proclaimed the Good news and righteousness of Jesus Christ enriching the people with the ever living values of loving, sharing, serving, educating etc. which helped them to restore their human dignity.
We function as a registered Society, bearing the name "Society of Mary Immaculate", Thanjavur. SMMI Provincialate, Thanjavur was legally registered under Tamil Nadu Registration Act in the year 1983. The Major activities of this managing body are faith formation, education, medical, and social activities, like caring of orphans, widows, lepers and the less privileged section of the Society etc... The Governing body members regulate all the undertaking of the Society, keeping in line with all the rules of Society Registration Act. The service rendered always aims at the overall development of all people around us.
In 1900 as we entered this remote village our first concern was the alphabetizing the little ones which paved way for the primary school. As time went on bloomed the High school, and in the year 2006 the Hr. Secondary wing was added. It was the joy of the people of every caste, creed and religion to have their girl children complete their foundational status of XII std. in their own village. It was a long cherished dream of the Society members and also the eager expectation of the Public to have the privilege of Higher Study within their reachability. The result is the dawn of a new venture in the form of St. Theresa's Arts and Science College in the cradle of Tharangambadi itself.
It is situated (or Tranquebar as it was called by the Europeans) in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. Tharangampadi is a panchayat town and Taluk headquarter in Nagapattinam district. It is situated at a distance of 15 kms north of Karaikal, 26 kms north of Nagapattinam, 277 kms south of Chennai, 117 kms south of Puducherry, 52 kms west of Chidambaram and 104 kms north of Thanjavur abutting the Bay of Bengal. It is located near the mouth of a distributary of the Cauvery River.
Lack of motivation regarding higher Education.
The male dominated society did not feel the need of educating adolescent girls.
The local culture was satisfied with an early marriage of the grown up girls.
The economic deprivation, at times utter poverty that prevented them, even of thinking such prospectus.
The fear of the parents to send the girls to far off places in pursuit of study.
The SMMI sisters living more than a century in Tharangambadi observed and analyzed the girl children state of affairs in various fields down the passage of time. Their sad plight depended on numerous factors like poor economy, the societies' long standing view that 'female' need not be educated, poverty due to number of reasons, cultural based bias as early marriages, fear of sending them to far off places, lack of motivation at the parents level etc, etc, prevented the girls to be able to pursue higher education after their higher secondary level. The result is the dawn of a new wing under the banner of St. Theresa's Arts and Science college for women to make the long dream of ours to come true. It has brought great relief to parents and the girl children. Situated in a nature clothed milieu, the girls of this area have begun their higher education since 2017. We do rely on the Almighty to bless this new service to give the best to all those who reach us. We implore God's Blessings to make this college a bacon of light imparting sound knowledge, values that helps them to search for true wisdom, which once the teenage minds have grasped, will translate it in their families, leading to the transformation of their milieu, by and large their society around and the nation too. May the Almighty God fulfill our hearts desire and pour out His blessings to make this effort to harvest a hundredfold.
