Fr. Peter Marie Mermier, who founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, was born in Savoy, France, in 1790. Mermier was a man of extraordinary faith and clear vision. Inspired by the spirit and personality of St. Francis de Sales, he founded the MSFS congregation in 1838. The society was greatly interested in the education of youth. The first batch of MSFS missionaries arrived in India in 1845. The educational apostolate has been their hallmark ever since. Fr. Mermier was called to his eternal reward on 30th September 1862.