On September 19, 1846, Our Lady appeared to two small children on the mountain of LaSalette in the French Alps. There, she gave them a message for the world to hear and follow.

1846   Sept 19: The apparition of the Blessed virgin at La Salette.

1847   Sept 19: at least 30,000 pilgrims go to the mountain.  In November and December, the bishop hosts a gathering where eight conferences are given on the truth of La Salette.

1850   Sept 25 Maximin meets the Cure of Ars

1851   Bishop de Bruillard publishes the Doctrinal Statement of September 19: The apparition is authentic, public worship is authorized, a church will be built on the site of the Apparition.

1852   May 25: the laying of the cornerstone of the new church.  A community of diocesan missionaries is established called the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.

1854  Bishop Ginoulhiac Publishes a Doctrinal Statement confirming bishop de Bruillard’s decisions and refuting objections of the oppositions. 

1858   Feb 2: Fathers Archier, Berlioz, Bassan, Buisson and petit take their first vows in the bishop;s Chapel.

1860   Father Sylvain-Marie Giraud takes first vows.  Widely experienced and a spiritual author he is named master of novices.

1865   Father Giraud is elected superior, and he launches the French devotional periodical ‘Les Annales de Notre-Dame de La Salette’

1876            Bishop Fava asks that the Missionaries write new constitutions with each article voted on individually.  Father Archier is elected superior General. 

1878   Pope Leo XIII invited bishop Fava and Father Henri Berthier to seek Vatican approval for the Constitutions. 

1879             Fathers Archier, Buissan, Henri Berthier, Jean Berthier, Perrin and Chapuy are the first to take first perpetual vows.  The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette assume responsibility for the Norway mission for ten-year duration.  April 18: the institute is canonically approved by Rome.  On April 20^th and 21^st our Lady of La Salette is crowned and the basilica is consecrated. 

1881   Laws against the congregations in France take effect against religious schools.  The scholastics leaves for Switzerland. 

1892   Fathers Pajot and Vignon find haven at Hartford, Connecticut.  The North American experience begins.

1896   A La Salette Scholasticate is founded in Rome.  In 20 years the number of La Salette sisters has increased from 11 to 150.

1899   French La Salette migrate to Madagascar and the Canadian Northwest.

1902   The General Administration migrates to Switzerland, then to Italy.  The five first La Salette Missionaries arrive in Polan.  Father Clement Moussier leaves from the United States to go to Brazil.

1904   Melanie Calvat dies at Altamura.

1918   French religious are allowed to reenter France.

1926   Final approval of the Constitution by Rome

1934   The congregation is divided into provinces: France, Pland, United States, Brazil. 

1936   La Salette from Poland and the U.S. found a mission in Argentina.

1938   La Salette in Switzerland and Liechtenstein become a province.

1946  Centennial celebration of the Apparition.  Marian congress in Grenoble.  La Salette from Switzerland launch a mission in Angola.

1948   La Salette from U.S. launch a mission in the Philippines.

1962   La Salette foundation in Italy became the Province.

            (Thanks to Fr. Roger Castel, MS for the above informations)

1978   Father Efren Musngi propsed the plan for the recruitment of candidates from India.  At the Council of the Congregation in Switzerland in July 1978 the plan was accepted and it was entrusted to the Philippine Vice province.

1979   Fathers Orlando Sapuay and William Slight conducted the first vocation compaign in Kerala India.  Mathew manjaly and Augustine Cheerakathil arrives in the Philippines as the first candidated for the missionaries of Our Lady of La salette. 

1980   Fr. Rutiillio mallilin recruites three candidates from India – Andrews Kolannoor, Jose  Punnakunnel and Jose Kuzhinjalil.

1982   The Philippines attain provincial status.  Antisirabe becomes a province. Fr. Bill Slight recruites two candidates from India Job Callarackal and Joy Chukkananickal.  

1985   Renewed and updated after Vatican II the constitutions are approved by Rome.

1987  Fr.Efren Tomas recurites four candidates from India – Thomas Vellappilly, William Kaliayadan, Jacob Vettathu and James poovathingal.

1988   two provinces in Madagascar merge into one.  Fr. Jose Kuzhinjalil from India, trained in the Philippines, open the mission in Vamanapuram, Trivandrum, Kerala (India). 

1989   Alex valummel, Jolly Ayyamkolil and Daison Areeparambil joined La Salette.  Fathers Andrews Kollannoor and Jose Punnakunnel joined the mission in India.  Beginning of the minor seminary in Aloor, India.

1990   August 17: The frist La Salette house, named La Salette Bhavan at Parakkadavu, was inaugurated by Rt. Rev. Dr. James Pazhayattil.    

1996   the 150^th anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady at La Salette.  A year of celebration throughout the world.  Theological Studies for La Salette Missionaries begins in India. 

1997   The second house of La salette India was inaugurated and named La Salette Sadhan – mainly for the philosophical studies.

2000   The third house of La Salette missionaries, La Salette Nikethan, was inaugurated by Superior General Isidro Perrin, MS.   Postulancy program begins in India

2001   October:  La Salette Community in India raised into the status of a Region named La Salette Matha region.  Fr. Mathew Manjaly became its first Regional Superior.  Novitiate Program begins in India.  All levels of formation are done here in India. 

2002    Council of the Congregation was held in Bangalore,India. (April 7-20).  Aug. 31 - La Sadhan, Bangalore was raised as Regional House. 

2003   June: Opened an education center La Salette Vidya Nikethan for the poor village children in Hunsur, Mysore.

2005   Second Regional Chapter - January 5-12.  Fr Mathew Manjaly was re-elected as Regional Superior. 

2007   Jan. 24-26 - First Provincial Chapter.  Fr Andrews Kollannoor was elected as the first Provincial of La Salette Matha Province.

 

                                                                                                                 (Fr. Rojan, MS)

A  Brief  history  of La Salette Matha Region
in the eyes of its first Regional Superior Fr. Mathew Manjaly, MS

La Salette mission in India was initiated by the Philippine province.  Fr. Musngi, Superior of the Vice Province was designated as one of the two delegates of the Association of the Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines to attend the Conference of the Major Superiors of Asia Convoked by the Congregation for religious, held in Bangalore, India(Feb.26-March 5,1978). This meeting was presided by Cardinal Pironio, head of the Congregation for Religious. Late Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara was the President of the Association of Major Religious Superiors from India.

Here in this meeting Fr .Musngi realized that India is rich in vocation to priesthood and religious missionary life, especially the state of Kerala. .Fr. Musngi consulted his dream of bringing some candidates from India and train them in the Philippines and send them back to India and establish the La Salette presence in India.

As a follow up after the meeting he came to Kerala. At the Council of the Congregation in Switzerland in July 1978, Fr. Musngi presented the proposed plan for the recruitment of candidates from India and to bring them to Philippines.  It was approved and entrusted to the Philippine Vice -Province. 

In 1978 and 1979 Fr. Orlando Sapuay and Fr. William Slight conducted vocation campaign in Kerala, India. On June 18,1979, the first candidates (Now Frs. Mathew Manjaly & Augustine Cheerakathil) arrived in the Philippines. In 1980 Fr. Ruttillio Mallillin recruited three more candidates (now Frs.Jose Kuzhinjaly, Joseph Punnakunnel and Andrews Kollannoor). In 1982 two more candidates (now Frs. J.Callarakal & Joy Chukananikal) by Fr. Bill slight.

Then in 1987 Fr. Efren Tomas came to India and recruited four more candidates (now Frs.Thomas Vellapilly, James Poovathingal, Jacob Vettathu and William Kaliyadan).  In 1989 Alex Valummel and Jolly Ayyamkolil joined in La Salette . Cyriac Mattathilanikal and Joby Cheradai followed in 1990.  Benny Thadathilkunnel and Antony Palayoor in 1991and in 1992 Jose Muttathan and Job Alugula left for the philippines for their furthur studies.    

In August 1989 We already started our presence in India by taking care of a parish given by then bishop Dr. Jacob Acharuparambil (Bishop of Trivundrum, Latin diocese) by one of our La Salette priests Fr. J.kuzinjaly.  At the same time we also started the beginning of a minor seminary in India, in Aloor Irinjalakuda (residing with the diocesan semianrians) for one year and Fr.Joseph Punnakunnel was in charge of this beginning.  In 1990 we were able to buy a house and property of our own with the special help of Fr.John kollannoor C.M.I., from the C.M.C.Sisters and with the blessing and approval of the bishop of Irinjalakuda, Rt. Rev. Dr. James Pazhayattil. In this house we started our own minor seminary formation (candidates after their S.S.L.C) of which Frs. Joseph Punnakunnel and Fr.Andrews Kollannoor was in charge. In October 1995 La Salette community purchased a piece of land in Bangalore in view of establishing a philosophy house, which became a reality in full swing by year 2001. This was made possible with the special support of the General Council (Fr.IsidroPerin and team) and the generous financial support from the North American Province and also special financial support from the Italian province and the generous help and assistance from the congregation at large.  In 1992 Philosophy studies started here in India-in Dharmaram college, Bagalore.  In 1996 Bros. Paul Thoppilan,,Johny Vadakan Jose Muttathan and James Kalliath started their Theology studies in Dharmaram, Bangalore ,India. Later in 2000, the postulancy (pre-novitiate) program and in 2001 the Novitiate also started in our new house, Hunsur, Mysore, India. In that way by the year 2001 all levels of formation is done here in India. In October 2001 La Salette community in India became a Region and the first regional chapter was in October 2001. Fr.Mathew Manjaly was elected as the first Regional Superior with Fr.Alex Valummel as Vicar and Fr.Joseph Punnakunnel as Councilor cum Treasurer. The Region was named-LA SALETTE MATHA REGION.

A of august 2004 La Salette Matha Region has 28 priests (perpetually professed) 11 scholastic brothers in theology studies of whom five are in the deck for  perpetual profession and ordination in 2005.  We are expecting four novices and 6 postulants in 2005. We have 25 students in philosophy (3 years) and around 55 aspirant seminarians in college level in our minor seminaries.

In 2003 June we have opened an education mission for the poor village children in Hunsur, Mysore( all children are Non-Christians. The regional office of the LSM region is in Bangalore together with the philosophy study house.  LSM region is all set to open a house, La Salette Ashram in Mananthavady, North Kerala for family counseling and renewal program by January 2005.  The LSM region will have its Second regional pre-chapter and chapter from January 5-12,2005, With Blessed Mother Mary at our side and with the generous assistance and support of the congregation and many other generous persons we are sure that we can do great things in India and else where as La Salette as we move forward.