SEVEN MINUTES

WITH THE SERVANT OF GOD

Reflections of the Word of God and the Life
of Father Mermier
September 1 to 30, 2021
MISSIONARIES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
SISTERS OF THE CROSS OF CHAVANOD
Dear Sons and Daughters of Father Mermier,
Today we are the sons and daughters of Father Mermier and
Mother Claudine Echernier because of the Yes given by them
to the Lord at a particular moment in their lives as well as in
the history of the Church and Society. Ever since the founda-
tion of our Congregations, many have said, similar Yes at the
right moment. That keeps our Congregations alive even today.
This project of Seven Minutes with the Servant of God is a
humble initiative which would help each of us to explore, ex-
pose and experience more and more from the missionary dy-
namism of our Holy Founder Father Mermier who was imbued
with the Salesian spirituality. This project is more appropriate
as the MSFS is celebrating the Year of Missions 2021-2022.
I thank Rev. Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil MSFS our beloved Superior
General and Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Miranda SCC the Mother Gen-
eral of the Holy Cross Sisters and their respective councils for
the sincere encouragement and support to this concept.
My sincere thanks to all the Fathers and Sisters who are pre-
paring the talks. My sincere thanks to Fr. Shaibu Ezhanikatt
MSFS, Fr. J Stephen MSFS and the staff at DeSifma at Chennai,
India for the technical assistance.
From September 1 to 30, every day you will receive a video
clip – just seven minutes duration - exposing the spirituality
of Father Mermier as depicted in his life and in the mission of
the MSFS and SCC. Let us listen and share, let us imbibe and
live the same spirituality. Let us continue to say YES to the
divine projects of our Congregations entrusted to our care.

Yours in the Lord,

Fr. Johnson Kalldiukil MSFS
(General Secretary for the Mission) August 20, 2021
Welcome global family
to SEVEN MINUTES with Father Mermier!
I consider the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales and Sisters of
the Cross of Chavanod as part of the global family. Father Peter
May Mermier is the founder of the Missionaries of St. Francis de
Sales and co-founder, with Madamme Eschernier, of the Sisters
of the Cross of Chavanod.
For us, his sons and daughters, the coming month of September
is going to be a month of capturing the spirit of our Founder and
Co-Founder.
Many religious congregations, today, are painfully aware that
they no longer serve the purpose they were founded for. A re-
ligious congregation begins to disintegrate when personal proj-
ects, personal interests, and personal charism drive the mem-
bers without sharing the vision and charism of the Founder. We
are continually invited to go back to our roots in order to recap-
ture the spirit and charism of the Founder. For Father Mermier,
religious life lived in a community was indispensable for mission
work.
Welcome to 7 Minutes with Fr. Mermier. The purpose of SEVEN
Minutes with Father Mermier is to reconnect us with the spirit
and charism of our Founder and co-founder. I invite you to be
enlightened, molded, and stimulated by the spirit of Father Mer-
mier who was gripped by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.
Our mission Secretariat (together with DSM, DeSIFMA and the
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod) has prepared SEVEN Minutes -
Thirty Days or 7/30 with Fr. Mermier in the month of September.
Please tune in and listen to God’s voice speaking to us through
Father Mermier. I encourage you my Holy Cross Sisters and MSFS
Brothers to stay connected and take advantage of this SEVEN
Minutes! Thank you Sr. Elizabeth Miranda, the Superior General!

LIVE JESUS
Fr. Abraham Vetuvelil MSFS
Superior General
Dear Fathers and Sisters,
I am very glad to know about the Programme, “Seven min-
utes with Servant of God, our Founder Father Mermier”, as
part of the Year of the Missions of the MSFS. I express my
sincere sentiments of joy and appreciation to MSFS Fathers
and Sisters of the Cross who have contributed to make it a
reality. Now, it will be a great source of inspiration and en-
couragement to all of us, as we earnestly strive to grasp and
personalize the spirit of our Founders, in particular, Father
Mermier. Mother Claudine Echernier collaborated closely
with Father Mermier to found the Congregation of the Sis-
ters of the Cross of Chavanod to reveal to all the merciful
and compassionate love of the Father.
I wish that all of us imbibe the passionate love and zeal
which marked the life of our Founders. Like our Founders,
may we all be caught up by the Thirst for God and Passion
for Humanity, and toil together for the greater Glory of God
and salvation of souls.
“Let us pray to God, let us go forward always with new con-
fidence, let us hope that we do His work and that He will
sustain it.” Fr. Peter Mermier

Imploring God’s blessings on all of us,

Sr. Elizabeth Miranda SCC
Superior General
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod
Fr. Yves Carron MSFS
Assistant General, Postulator
for the Cause of our Founder
Fribourg, Switzerland

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Text Human Wisdom and

Lk 14:28
Mt. 6:31-33
Divine Providence in the
person and life of Father
Mermier

Highlights
We do much in doing little, if we do it
for God, when and as he wills it.

“Let us pray to God. Let us go foward

always with new confidence, let us
hope that we do His work and that He
will sustain it.”
(Letter to Mother Claudine, April 1855)

01.09.2021
Fr. Joseph Kunjaparampil MSFS
In Keetmanshoop
Namibia

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021

Text Father Mermier: Ardent

Rev. 3:20
doer of God’s Will

Highlights
Doing the will of God was the primary
focus in his life.

The work of the Missions had its solid

foundation in the will of God.

Seven Minutes

02.09.2021
Sr. Vincy Jose SCC
Thellakam
India

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Text The Spirit of Discernment

1 Cor. 10:23
for a Missionary. Lessons
from Father Mermier

Highlights
Be compassionate towards human
frailty.

It is not a question of doing a lot, but

doing well what one does.

Seven Minutes

03.09.2021
Fr. Innocent Ngowi MSFS
Cotonou
Benin

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Text Prayer in Faith leads to

James 5: 16
Zeal. Mermierian Lessons

Highlights
In dealing with sinners Fathers Mermi-
er had a fatherly and caring approach
like that of St. Francis de Sales.

Father Mermier always wanted and

insisted on the members to be contem-
plative in action and mystics of God’s
love.

Seven Minutes

04.09.2021
Fr. John Kennedy MSFS
Esmeraldas
Ecuador

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021

Text Father Mermier:

Jer. 1:7-8
A Missionary par
excellence

Highlights
I am convinced more than ever of the
need to have missionaries who are
filled with the spirit of God, who pray,
who study, who mortify themselves,
who love their brethren. (Father Mer-
mier)

If the spirit of God is active and alive

then our mission too will be alive. If the
spirit of God is not active then we will
have mission and ministry but it will be
a dead ministry.

05.09.2021
Fr. Vincent Lourdusamy MSFS
Pune
India

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021

Text Father Mermier:

Phil. 4:13
A steadfast Missionary for
the mission of Christ

Highlights
Each human person is an investment of
God.

If God is with us, who cane be against

us?

Seven Minutes

06.09.2021
Sr. Ushani Perera SCC
Kandy
Sri Lanka

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Text Father Mermier:

1 Tim.4:12
The Passionate Missionary
and a person of exemplary
life

Highlights
“Mission is a passion for Jesus and at
the same time a passion for His peo-
ple.” Pope Francis

No one control the manner of the

action of another person towards us.
However, it must be in our control how
we respond to such situations.

Seven Minutes
07.09.2021
Fr. Sesseti Mariadas MSFS
Visakhapatnam
India

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

Text Father Mermier an Icon

Ruth 1:17-18
of Fidelity – like Mother
Mary

Highlights
Today the challenge for us is to raise
the bar of our own fidelity.

Fr. Mermier wrote to the daughters:

“Sisters of the Cross, your job is easy,
not beyond your strength; simply be
faithful and very meticulous.”

Seven Minutes
08.09.2021
Fr. Emile Amougu MSFS
Bordeaux
France

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A man of

Prov.1:7
wisdom

Highlights
Indifference in matters of religion,
is considered by Father Mermier as
a “deadly disease, (...) a deplorable
epidemic [which causes] much harm
and becomes very dangerous because
of the bad examples and scandals given
by certain people.

Father Mermier declares that missions

are a privileged remedy against indif-
ference.

Seven Minutes
09.09.2021
Fr. Agnelo Fernandes MSFS
Arusha
Tanzania

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Text Daring to be different. The

Is.41:10
missionary courage of
Fr. Mermier

Highlights
The trust and confidence is born out of
humility and faith.

The legacy of God’s plan for the family

of the MSFS and the Sisters of the
Cross that he started was rooted in to-
tal trust in Divine Providence inspiring
generations of MSFS & SCC in selfless
and generous service of the church
and society.

Seven Minutes
10.09.2021
Sr. Veronica Fernandes SCC
Amaravati
India

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

Text Life of Father Mermier – A

Philm 1:4-5
Faith walk

Highlights
We shall do nothing, obtain nothing
without prayer.

Without faith, it is impossible to please

God.

Seven Minutes

11.09.2021
Fr. Rajesh Jayaseelan MSFS
Lisbon
Portugal

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A Man of

Hag 1:5
Discipline

Highlights
You have to form yourself for the exer-
cise of holy Ministry.

You work seriously, carefully, constantly

for your own sanctification.

Seven Minutes

12.09.2021
Fr. Charles Michael MSFS
Villupuram
India

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A Mystic

Lk. 6:45
and Prophet

Highlights
Father Mermier wanted the Fathers
and Sisters to be contemplatives in
action and mysticcs of God’s love.

As a man of profound faith, the heart

of Father Mermier longed for spread-
ing the good news of Jesus

Seven Minutes

13.09.2021
Sr. Greta Iscard SCC
Portoviejo
Ecuador
Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Text SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

Jn.3:16-17
Mermierian urge to seek
the lost: Our challenge

Highlights
Father Mermier’s mode of preaching
was always adapted to suit the level of
the people.

His ministry of preaching the missions

brought him closer to the poor and
those in the periphery.

Seven Minutes

14.09.2021
Fr. Mani Malana MSFS
Sydney
Australia
The Feast of
Our Lady of Sorrows,
Mother of Compassion

Text SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Jn. 19:25-27
Mother of Sorrows
and Father Mermier

Highlights
Suffering is different from pain.

Mary taught me to be different man, a

man more humble, more gentle, more
mortified.

Seven Minutes

15.09.2021
Fr. Francis Venmenikattayil MSFS
Chur
Switzerland

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Text The Spirit of Endurance in

1 Cor.13:7
Father Mermier

Highlights
Enduring love has its greatest value
on the face of rejection, calumny and
character assassination.

A normal Pain is suffering. It has no

higher value.

Seven Minutes

16.09.2021
Sr. Wendy Sequeira SCC
Bastora
India

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Text Listen with your heart.

Ez. 36:26
Lessons from Fr. Mermier

Highlights
Listening – leading to renewal and
rejuvenation.

A person who is connected to God

remains young.

Seven Minutes

17.09.2021
Fr. Pothula Guna Shekar MSFS
Manitoba
Canada

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

Text Humility with Simplicity

Mt.5:3
triumphs. Lessons from
Fr. Mermier

Highlights
Humility is the right disposition of the
creation before the creator.

Only a man of simplicity can under-

stand the complexities of the soul in
need of healing.

Seven Minutes

18.09.2021
Fr. Carlos Borowa MSFS
Silapathar
India

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

Text The holy Will of God in

Lk.23:36
the life of Father Mermier

Highlights
The beginnings are terrible; however,
I praise God. Humiliation will bring
success.

All I want is to please God. Isn’t that

everything for me?

Seven Minutes

19.09.2021
Fr. Jundie Sumagaysay MSFS
Cebu
Philippines

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Text The Spiritual Missionary

Ester 4:14
methods of Father Mermier

Highlights
Urgency’ for the mission fuelled the zeal
of Father Mermier.

Zeal begets zeal. The missionary zeal of

Father Mermier began permeate the
whole diocese.

Seven Minutes

20.09.2021
Sr. Monica Kawira SCC
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Text Father Mermier: An Icon

Deut 31:8
of great Faith

Highlights
The time of affliction is the time of a
good harvest, when the soul harvests
the richest blessings of heaven it prac-
tices the most beautiful of merits:
St. Francis de Sales

How many times did he not journey

from Annecy to Chavanod on foot
reciting the rosary in order to instruct,
encourage his daughters and make
arrangements for the spiritual and
material needs for the new born com-
munity?

21.09.2021
Fr. Alex Tigga MSFS
Tucson
USA

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Text Prayer in humility brings

2 Chron 7:14
blessings: Life of Father
Mermier a witness

Highlights
Whenever people of God humbled
themselves and prayed to God in
repentance, he blessed the land with
abundant production to draw people
back to himself.

Fr. Mermier wrote to confreres in India:

“Prayer is a need, a means of obtaining
graces proper to our vocation.”

Seven Minutes

22.09.2021
Fr. Ananda Prasad MSFS
Larantuka
Indonesia

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Text Father Mermier,

2 King 22:19
the Shepherd that smells
the sheep

Highlights
As Ministers of the word of God and
Sacraments we are called to be the
‘keepers’ of our brothers and sisters.

We are NOT called to be the managers

but the messengers of God’s word of
love and healing.

Seven Minutes

23.09.2021
Fr. Stephendass Joseph MSFS
Iondrina
Brazil

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A docile

Ex. 34:6
instrument of God

Highlights
It is a constant struggle to be a fruitful
missionary.

As God promised Moses and his people

Israel, His presence is always before us
wherever we go.

Seven Minutes

24.09.2021
Sr. Pushpam Irudhayam SCC
Nagercoil
India

SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A Role

Jn.10:14-15
Model for religious
leadership today

Highlights
The art of caring and genuine concern
for the members, was something very
special in the life of Father Mermier.

Father Mermier had the art of gently

carefronting, challenging and
speaking matters directly to everyone.

Seven Minutes
25.09.2021
Fr. Philip Thomas MSFS
Bengaluru
India

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

Text Vision for Mission –

Luke 4: 8
According to Father
Mermier

Highlights
Father Mermier’s vision got incorporat-
ed with the vision of Jesus and so his
heart longed for spreading the King-
dom in places where Christ was still
unknown.

Let the vision of our Founder become

‘good news’ for this broken world
affected by the pandemic of sins and
sicknesses.
Seven Minutes

26.09.2021
Fr. Richard Tamaro MSFS
Bukene
Tanzania

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Text Father Mermier and his

Hosea 14:9
prophetic stand

Highlights
I assure you that the beginnings are
terrible and sometimes humiliating.
But all the same I must praise God, and
thank Jesus who has enabled me to
swallow this bitterness of heart.

The greatest failure in life would be the

failure to try out things.

Seven Minutes

27.09.2021
Fr. Thomas Kulandaisamy MSFS
Vice Postulator for the Cause of our Founder
Malmesbury
England
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Text Father Mermier, a beacon

1 Pet 2:9
of light in the darkness
today
Highlights
“This man of God who had no other
eloquence than that of simplicity,
lucidity and conviction has attracted
a greater number of listeners to his
instructions.” (Words of Fr Metral,
the parish priest of Magland where Fr.
Mermier preached missions)

“My uncle was not a man of

eloquence, but a man of faith, an
organizer, he was very practical, and all
that he did was marked with the stamp
of good administration.” (one of his
nephews of Fr. Mermier)
28.09.2021
Sr. Shaly Sebastian SCC
General Councillor
Geneva, Switzerland

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Text Father Mermier: A man

1 Sam. 16:7
after God’s own heart

Highlights
Many people saw in Father Mermier
the compassionate face of God.

Man looks on the outward appearance,

but the LORD looks on the heart.

Seven Minutes

29.09.2021
Fr. Abraham Vettuvelil MSFS
Superior General
Rome, Italy

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Text One thing necessary

Lk. 10: 38-42

Highlights
The specific remedy for all our spiritual
weaknesses is ‘Seek only God’

Simplicity is ‘having no other aim in

all our actions but the one desire of
pleasing God’

Seven Minutes

30.09.2021
 PRAYER OF DEVOTION

In Honour of Servant of God

FR PETER MARIE MERMIER
(1790 – 1862)

God of Love, You care for us and You guide us in

numerous ways. We thank You for inflaming the heart
of Fr Peter Mermier with an intense love for You and a
zeal for the salvation of souls. You blessed him with a
total trust in You and in humble surrender to Your holy
Will. It was your will that he should found the Congre-
gation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, and
with Mother Claudine Echernier, the Congregation of
the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod, to spread your
mercy and compassion, to all by witnessing to Your
love and through their prophetic ministries. His life of
holiness was his supreme act of glory to You. Loving Fa-
ther, while he was on earth, You blessed many through
him, especially in the renewal of Christian faith and
family through the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.
Your raised him to the saintly state of Servant of God.
Thereby You testify that he is Your highly favoured son
for whom You refuse nothing. So we pray that through
his holy intercession, You bless us now with favour we
request and pray for … (silence)
We make this prayer through Christ Your Son who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God
forever and ever … AMEN