REV. FR. PETER MARY MERMIER (1790 -1862)

Rev. Fr. Peter Mermier was born, on 28th August 1790, at Savoy in France. His father was Francois Mermier and Mother Antoniette Bastion. He grew as a child endowed with a calm character, alert mind, bright intelligence and genuine piety. He did excellently well in studies. He was a model and inspiration to the rest of the students. As a boy he manifested his desire to become a Priest to serve people. In the year 1801 Peter Mermier joined the Presbyterial College of Villy-Le Bouvert. He was a person of upright Spirit and Sound judgement. He was Ordained Priest on 21st March 1813. He was then only Twenty-two and a half years old.

He founded the congregation of the “Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales” (M.S.F.S.) on 24th October 1838. He also founded the Congregation of the “Daughters of the Cross of Chavanod” in the year 1841 The first batch of M. S. F S. arrived at Pondicherry in India by sea, on 8th September 1845. From there they proceeded to their destination by boat via Yanam and reached Visakhapatnam (The Port City) on 19th February 1846. Realizing the value and the need of education they started the St. Aloysius School (the first one) in 1847 in Visakhapatnam where it has completed 165 years of, its glorious services to our country, in the field of education.

Rev. Fr. Peter Mermier died on 30th September 1862. The cause of Rev. Fr. Peter Mermier was introduced for Beatification in the year 1984.