Our Foundress

Our Foundress

Helen DE Chappotin, known throughout the world by her religious name, Mother Mary of the Passion, was an exceptionally intelligent woman, strong and sensitive and a source of inspiration for numerous missionaries. She was born in Nantes, in Brittany(France) in 1839 .After the death of her mother, when Helen was 21 yrs old, she had the intuition of a special vocation to Serve God. She entered the monastery in her native town in 1860. Before the end of her novitiate, because of her generous personality. This woman of action realistic and daring had a great sense of responsibility to the Universal Mission of spreading God’s love here on earth.

January 6th, 1877, marked the foundation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary(F.M.M). Her spirit remains engraven in the Institute of the F.M.M. the most universal institute because of the great number of nationalities of its members and by its expansion throughout the whole world.