- 01 August, 2025
This is the story of a Catholic religious congregation born out of compassion, committed to uplifting the abandoned and marginalised through acts of love and mercy.
Long before the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI) congregation was officially established, its visionary founder, Monsignor Joseph Kandathil, had already begun a powerful mission of compassion. On 2 February 1942, in Cherthala, Kerala, he opened a hospital dedicated to the care of abandoned leprosy patients. Moved by their suffering, he personally sought out the afflicted and began ministering to their needs.
During this time, Monsignor Kandathil experienced a profound vision—Christ on the cross being embraced by St Francis of Assisi. This spiritual encounter inspired him to found a Franciscan congregation of women religious. On 2 April 1949, the ASMI congregation was born.
With unwavering commitment, Fr Kandathil travelled from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram, begging with outstretched hands to fund his mission. Every rupee he collected was used to feed, clothe, and care for leprosy patients. He also began building homes for them.
In Cherthala, women religious joined him in this noble cause. These early sisters walked through villages and towns, begging for funds solely to serve leprosy patients. The patient count eventually reached around 250. As demand grew, people suffering from other ailments began arriving, prompting the establishment of a general hospital, which later expanded to include a nursing school.
The Assisi Sisters have carried forward Fr Kandathil’s legacy with fervent dedication. Today, they continue to build homes for the poor and provide marriage support and other assistance to the underprivileged. Their mission extends to caring for those suffering from AIDS, the hearing impaired, the blind, the mute, and individuals with mental health challenges.
In India, their presence spans Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Internationally, they are active in Germany, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar.
The congregation was elevated to the status of a Pontifical Institute on 28 April 1986, and the first province was established the following year. Today, around 750 sisters serve across four provinces and three regions. In 2019, Monsignor Joseph Kandathil was declared a Servant of God.
Rooted in a mission of love and inspired by Christ, the Assisi Sisters continue to serve society’s most neglected. With unshakable faith, they embody the compassionate touch of Christ, bringing the downtrodden back into the heart of society—and no suffering, persecution, or hardship can deter them from their divine calling.
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