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Who we are
We are an international congregation coming from many countries of the world to participate in evangelization by “missionary presence, by living and proclaiming the Gospel, by apostolic service” (SMSM Constitutions 14). Gathered together from different backgrounds and nationalities, we respond to the call to universal mission in 24 countries. “In respect and dialogue, we try to be bonds of communion between peoples, races and cultures, and witnesses to universal love” (ibid. 22).
In the course of our history, our congregation has been known by several different names – at the beginning - Sisters of Charity of the Third Order of Mary, and later Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Mary. Since our official approbation as a congregation of pontifical right in 1931 our official name is Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.
Today in some countries we are known simply as the “SMSM” sisters, or as the “Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary”.
Our pioneers
Marie Francoise Perroton and the ten pioneers responded to the call of God and “a gracious choice of Mary” to set out to serve the mission of her Son. Other women from France joined them in Wallis, Futuna, New Caledonia, and Samoa. From the 1860’s they had a small community in Sydney, Australia, site of the Marist missions administration. Our congregation has been international from its origins, as the pioneers welcomed young women from Oceania to join them in becoming religious sisters.
The vocation of our first sisters was clarified through their faithful living in response to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Marist priests with whom they worked in mission.
To understand the vocation of the pioneers, which is also the vocation of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary today.
