Matters India Reporter
Vishakhapatnam, Feb. 15 2025: The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales congregation, also known as Fransalians, has elected its new leadership team, the ‘General Curia,’ during the 21st General Chapter concluded in Vishakhapatnam, southeastern India.
The Fransalian General Chapter that ended on February 14 brought together 23 delegates and 19 ex-officio members from around the world to discern the congregation’s future and elect leaders for the next eight years.
Former Mission General Secretary Father Kallidukil Johnson Michael was elected as the 15th superior general. Born in Kerala, southern India, Father Kallidukil will guide the 180-year-old Congregation in its mission and pastoral initiatives.
Kallidukil will be assisted by Father Puthiyakulangara Saji George – assistant general; along with General Councillors; Fathers Thumma Mariadas Reddy (Mission); Benedict De Souza (Formation); A. Anthony Swamy (Education); A. Christu Raj (Social and Innovative Ministries), and Karickal Jose – general bursar.
“The newly elected leaders will shape the congregation’s mission, education, and social apostolate,” said outgoing General Father Abraham Vattuveil who served the post for 12 years.
The chapter members representing 12 provinces and 20 countries expressed gratitude to the outgoing superior general and his team for leading the congregation for the past twelve years.
The congregation was founded on October 24, 1838, in Annecy, France, by Servant of God Father Peter Marie Mermier. Today some 2,000 Fransalians are present in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The first batch of six French missionaries landed in French colony Pondicherry on September 8, 1845, and later reached Visakhapatnam, now in Andhra Pradesh, on February 19, 1846.
Currently in India the Fransalians work in seven provinces: Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Pune, South West India, South East India, Guwahati and Dibrugarh.