THE DMI SOCIETY
The society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate & Collaborators (DMI) is a Society of Apostolic life of women. It is an organization of women committed to service unconditionally the marginalized people, particularly women and children, who live in human bondage such as ignorance, illiteracy, ill health, unequal opportunities and economic slavery. The DMI is dedicated to take part in efforts and struggles of the poor for development.
DMI was founded by Fr.Arul Raj.OMI in 1984 in a remote village Keechalm near Tirutani about 125 Kms away from Chennai. At present it has 425 committed and dedicated young women as members. DMI also has about 600 paid staff in development and other field.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

The Founder of the Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators (DMI) is Rev.Fr.Jesu Adimai Emmanuel Arul Raj OMI. He was born in Rajakkamangalamthurai in Kanyakumari District in the southern tip of Tamil Nadu in India. He was born in an affluent family known, respected and loved by the entire village. His father Sri.Jesu Adimai popularly known as Muthiah was a School Headmaster and his mother Smt.Cecilia commonly known as Muthamma was a house-wife. He was born with eight siblings of whom two are no more. All the others are all highly educated and well placed.

He grew up as a happy child and when he was called by one Fr.Emmanuel OMI to join the seminary, he spontaneously said “yes” and followed his vocation. He made his first profession on 31st May 1974 but as he himself relates often, he always had an internal conflict. All that vanished on 8th September, 1979 when he made his Final commitment. He made up his mind once and for all, never to look back and at no cost. On that day, he offered his life totally to God and fully for God’s people and the rest is history.

He was ordained an Oblate priest on 21st December 1979. He volunteered to go to difficult missions. It was this zeal that took him to a remote parish in Thiruthani District by name Pandaravedu, a parish abandoned by the diocesan priests and refused to be taken up by any priest. He accepted the mission cheerfully and labored joyously. His relentless service was handicapped as the religious sisters working in the Parish also abandoned it. The others whom he persuaded and brought also couldn’t stay for more than a week. It was at this juncture the Holy Spirit inspired Fr.Arul Raj to found a society of apostolic life for women and 12 women spontaneously and readily responded by offering themselves to God and the service of people. Thus was born the Society of daughters of Mary Immaculate and Collaborators in Pandaravedu on 28th January 1984. During his visit to Brazil to meet his brother Fr.Jesudoss and his missionary companions in 1990, Fr.Arul Raj was asked by His Grace Most Rev.Vittorio Pavenello if he couldstart a missionary Society for priests. It was after seven years of deep meditation, prayer and thought, the Founder accepted the Call and in the year 1998, the missionary society for priests “Missionaries of Mary Immaculate” came to be.

Fr.Arul Raj remembers with gratitude the deceased Archbishop Most Rev Arulappa as his second father and his mother society, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate as his second mother. He remains ever grateful to all the Archbishops, Bishops, priests, religious and lay collaborators who have stood solidly beside him at various stages of his life. He also recollects sweet memories of having taught hymns to Blessed Mother Teresa during her visits to the South in the years 1972 – 1974. But he finds more satisfaction in recollecting moments of pain and suffering, the occasions that called for great humility. He is ever eager to give credit to whomever it is due and never usurps such credit to himself or the Society. He has always been and still is one who believes in not being the leader always but in creating leaders who shoulder their own Government with focused leadership.

Fr.Arul Raj OMI, the Founder of the twin societies of DMI and MMI completed 25 years of service as an Oblate priest in the year 2004 but is still tireless and goes about with burning zeal saying repeatedly “I am at the business of the Father.”

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