Congregation of the Mission

Southern Indian Province

The Congregation of the Mission, a society of apostolic life comprising priests and lay brothers, was founded by Saint Vincent de Paul in Paris on April 17, 1625, and later approved by Pope Urban VII on January 12, 1633, with the publication of the bull Salvatoris Nostri. Known as Paules in Spain, Lazarists in France, and Vincentians in other parts of the world, the members of this congregation are devoted to following Jesus Christ, carrying forward His mission of evangelizing the poor. Rooted in community life, Vincentians dedicate themselves to serving the needy through pastoral ministries, social work, and specialized services such as formation, retreat preaching, and youth ministry. Their missionary presence in India began in 1922, when Spanish Vincentians arrived in Orissa, leading to widespread evangelization and the establishment of three dioceses: Cuttack - Bhubaneshwar Archdiocese, Berhampur Diocese, and Balasore Diocese, which together embrace over 400,000 Catholics. As the congregation flourished, it expanded its ministries across India, reaching Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Manipur, Rajasthan, and even beyond - extending its missionary work to Tanzania. Recognizing the vastness and potential of its Indian province, the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.) was divided in December 1997 into two administrative regions: the Northern Indian Province (Mother Province) and the Southern Indian Province (New Province). The Southern Indian Province, headquartered in Mysore, focuses its missionary efforts in several Indian states, as well as international missions in Angola, Canada, Germany, Italy, Malawi, Nepal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Guided by the vision of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Congregation continues to grow and thrive, bringing faith, hope, and service to communities across the globe.