Reverend Fr. Peter Marie Mermier was born on August 28, 1790 at Chaumont in Savoy, in France to Francios Mermier and Antoinette Bastian. At that time the French Revolution had badly affected the Church in Savoy and many priests left the country while a few went in hiding. Peter’s parents, who were fervent Christians, risked their lives and property by welcoming priests. Between the age of four and ten Peter had the rare privilege of assisting at the Mass celebrated secretly in the house. The faith and courage of his mother and of those daring priests motivated him to make a decisive choice for the Lord. He was ordained priest in the Diocese of Annecy on March 21, 1813. The first few years of his pastoral ministry awakened him to the indifference of the people to the Catholic Faith and practices due to the influence of Jansenism and the French Revolution. He found Preaching Parish Missions as an excellent way of reaching the people and enriching their faith. In 1826 the Bishop of Annecy permitted him to dedicate himself entirely to preaching mission. Gradually a small group of missioners were formed.
On October 24th 1838, Fr. Peter Mermier under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales founded ‘The Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales’ (MSFS) in Annecy, France. While venerating Saint Francis de Sales, and drawing inspiration from his example, Father Mermier also took Saint Ignatius of Loyola for his guide. He used quite extensively his Spiritual Exercises offered to all Christians by the Church to advance in the following of Christ. The Sisters of the Cross were formed by this rigorous and dynamic pedagogy, after Father Mermier himself had experienced its advantages. On September 30, 1862 he fell asleep in the Lord. Fr. Peter Marie Mermier is declared a Servant of God.
