50 Years of Presence of the Daughters of Saint Mary of Leuca in Kerala (India)
A journey of faith, service, and love.
In 2025, we, the Daughters of Saint Mary of Leuca, celebrate with profound joy and gratitude the 50th anniversary of our missionary presence in Kerala, India.
Fifty years of grace, service, and evangelical witness in a land that has welcomed us with affection and in which the Lord continues to work wonders.
It was 1975 when our first Sisters, courageously responding to the missionary call, left their homeland for Kerala. Driven by the desire to bring Christ’s love to our brothers and sisters most in need, they began a new page in our history, one of dedication, sacrifice, and profound trust in Providence.
Educate, care, serve with love
From the beginning, our mission has developed primarily in the fields of education and healthcare. Through our schools, we have sought to offer children and young people not only education, but also a comprehensive education that promotes the values of respect, solidarity, and responsibility.
In the medical and social fields, we have committed ourselves with love and simplicity to service to the poor and the sick, through dispensaries, clinics, and welcome centers, where everyone could feel seen, listened to, and cared for. In every daily gesture, we have sought to embody the charisma bequeathed to us by Mother Elisa Martinez, founder of our Institute: “Serve with joy, for the love of Christ in our brothers and sisters.”
A thank you that embraces everyone.
Today, looking back on these fifty years of presence in Kerala, our hearts open with gratitude:
– to the Lord, who has guided our steps;
– to the Sisters who have given their lives in this mission;
– to the local communities, who have welcomed us as sisters and collaborators in good;
– to the young Indian women who, called by the same love, have chosen to join
our religious family, continuing to make the mission flourish in India.
A look to the future
Celebrating this anniversary does not mean stopping, but renewing our willingness to serve with the same enthusiasm as at the beginning. We wish to continue to be a sign of God’s tenderness among the poorest, promoting life, dignity, and hope in every person we encounter.
With gratitude and joy, let us say together:
“Thank you, Lord, for 50 years of grace in Kerala. May we continue to serve with a new heart, for the glory of your name and the good of our brothers and sisters.”
