The Indian Missionary Society[1][2][3] is a Catholic Religious Congregation. It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.[4]
| Abbreviation | IMS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1941 |
| Founder | Fr. Gasper Arsenius Pinto, I.M.S. |
| Founded at | Varanasi |
| Type | Clerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for Men) |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Chaitanya-Cristnagar P.O., Varanasi-221003, U.P., India |
Membership | 308 members (216 priests) (2017) |
Superior General | Fr. Walter Francis Standley, I.M.S. |
| Website | ims |
History
editIt was founded on 3 November 1941 by Fr. Gaspar A Pinto.[5] [6]
Fr. Gaspar stayed in a rented house in Maldahiya, Varanasi, when he arrived India. In 1943 he bought a plot of land outside the city and named it Christnagar. He laid the foundation of the Mother House of the IMS in Christnagar. Bishop Angelo Poli of Allahabad canonically erected it as a Society of Indigenous Priests on 13 March 1945. In 1953 Msgr. Jos A. E. Fernandez was appointed first Superior General of the society. The Generalate (head office) of the IMS is in Varanasi. It is spread in almost 5 regions[7]
Present
editThe Congregation is spread in 5 regions and undertakes preaching and missionary work in the rural areas of India. Society at present has 218 religious priests who take care of 65 parishes.[8]
List of Superiors
edit| Name | Position | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Fr. Francis E. Lonakutty (Prasen Raj IMS) | Superior General | 2022- present |
| Fr. Walter Francis Standley | Superior General | 2019 - 2022 |
| Fr. Paul Mahendra | Superior General | 2012 - 2019 |
| Fr. Jose Subhash | Superior General | 2007 - 2012 |
| Fr. Joseph Satyanand | Superior General | 1995 - 2007 |
| Fr. Joseph Dilasa | Superior General | 1983 - 1995 |
| Fr. Prabhu Prasad | Superior General | 1971 - 1983 |
| Msgr. Jos A. E. Fernandez | Superior General | 1953 - 1971 |
| Fr. Gasper Arsenius Pinto | Founder | 1941 |
References
edit- ^ The Church of South India, The Indian Missionary Society, Madras, and The National Missionary Society of India Jointly Celebrate the Birth Centenary of Bishop Azariah, the First Indian Bishop and Founder of The Indian Missionary Society and the National Missionary Society, on 5th and 6th October 1974 in Madras. publisher not identified. 1974.
- ^ "The Indian Missionary Society". www.thecatholicdioceseofmeerut.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "Religious Life Directory, Indian Missionary Society". www.deoestgloria.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "Indian Missionary Society (I.M.S.)". GCatholic. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ Chad M. Bauman; Richard Fox Young (7 August 2014). Constructing Indian Christianities: Culture, Conversion and Caste. Routledge. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-1-317-56027-2.
- ^ "The Indian Missionary Society". ims.ind.in. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
- ^ "Indian Missionary Society (I.M.S.)". GCatholic. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ Cheney, David M. "Indian Missionary Society (Institute of Consecrated Life) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 11 September 2018.