Immaculate College for Women

The Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary (FIHM) had its foundation in Puducherry on 16th October 1844. The proud privilege of the Congregation is that, it is the 'First Indigenous Women Religious Congregation' in the Continent of Asia. The Founder of this Congregation is Rev. Fr. Louis Savenien Dupuis, MEP, a French Missionary. The Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary is an outcome of the 'felt need' of the Fathers of the Diocesan Synod of Pudhucherry. The Fathers of the Synod believed that the education of women would become instrumental in fostering true piety in families and generally in raising the quality of families. During the Diocesan Synod held at Puducherry in 1844, the During the Diocesan Synod held at Puducherry in 1844, the President Msgr. Clement Bonnard, the Vicar Apostolic of Pudhucherry, spoke emphatically about the necessity for the education of women. The Fathers proposed the idea that an Indian Sisters' Congregation should be started and the sisters should be entrusted with the responsibility of teaching women, Secular education together with religious and moral education. The seed of new congregation FIHM came out by the Grace of God, the blessings and consent of His Holiness Pope Gregory XVI and His Grace Msgr and Clement Bonnand, the Vicar Apostolic of Pudhucherry. The Founding Father, Fr. Louis Savenian Dupuis tirelessly worked for the growth of the Congregation till his death on the 4th June 1874. Following the footsteps of our founder, the directors and the Superiors General paved the way for the growth of the Congregation.