Charism & Motto

Our charism is “Spreading God’s Kingdom through Unconditional Love.” Inspired by the exemplary life of St. Eugene De Mazenod, we, the members of the Society of St. Eugene De Mazenod (SDM), wholeheartedly embrace the mission of love. In the spirit of our Lord’s selfless sacrifice, we commit ourselves to spreading His Kingdom—especially through compassionate care for the most vulnerable: widows, orphans, individuals with disabilities, the destitute, the neediest, and the poorest. (cf. GS.1)

Our charism is deeply grounded in Sacred Scripture:
* “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” — 1 Jn 4:16
* “Love each other as I have loved you.” — Jn 15:12
* “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” — 1 Jn 3:16
* “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Mt 25:40

Our charism is strengthened by the wisdom of the Church:
* “Faith needs to prove its fruitfulness by penetrating the believer’s entire life… and by activating him toward justice and love, especially regarding the needy.” — GS.21
* “Love of God and love of neighbour are thus inseparable; they form a single commandment. But both live from the love of God who has loved us first.” — DCE,18

Our charism is rooted in the spirit of Saint Eugene de Mazenod: We, the members of the SDM Society, rejoice in the benevolent patronage and legacy of Saint Eugene de Mazenod. His life and teachings are our guiding light as we seek to foster a culture of self-emptying love and compassion, contributing to the growth of God’s Kingdom.
Inspired by St. Eugene’s tireless devotion to the poor and marginalised, we dedicate ourselves to the care and upliftment of widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, the destitute, and the impoverished recognizing the innate dignity and worth of every human being.

Our charism is inspired by the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary: We, the SDMs, hold unwavering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, our patroness and spiritual Mother. Her presence shapes our identity and mission, guiding us through joys and sorrows. As a model of faith, humility, and obedience, Mary inspires us to imitate her virtues and entrust our lives to her loving care.

Our charism is shaped by the exemplary life of our Founder: Our charism finds its form and inspiration in the radiant example set by our Founder’s life and mission. Fr. Gerard’s life was marked by a profound spirit of renunciation and genuine sacrifice. In his teachings he spoke on three types of giving in Tamil tradition: Dhanam (giving with expectation), Dharmam (charity without expectation, born from abundance), and Thiyagam (complete and selfless sacrifice). Among these, Thiyagam—giving without any expectation—was closest to his heart. Inspired by the Gospel story of the poor widow who gave her last coin in faith (Mk 12:41–44, Lk 21:1–4), Fr. Gerard considered Thiyagam the noblest form of charity, mirroring the total self-giving of Jesus. He taught that true service arises not from surplus, but from a heart willing to surrender everything for love, compassion, and the good of others.

MOTTO

TO LOVE THE UNLOVED

“The poor are the privileged recipients of the Gospel, and the fact that it is freely preached to them is a sign of the Kingdom that Jesus came to establish.” (cf. EG.199)

‘To love the unloved’ is the motto of the society of St. Eugene De Mazoned. Many people spend their lives striving to become lovable, shaped by a culture that promotes conditional love based on behaviour, appearance, or usefulness. This flawed view often influences how we perceive God’s love, leading us to believe it must be earned. But Scripture, specifically 1 Jn 4:10, reveals that true love begins not with us loving God, but with God loving us— freely and sacrificially.

“Love the unloved” expresses a mission rooted in Christ’s radical compassion and self-emptying love, calling believers to serve and
uplift society’s most forgotten—orphans, widows, the disabled, and marginalised. Inspired by St. Eugene de Mazenod’s fearless dedication to the poor and living it as the core charism of the Society of St. Eugene de Mazenod engages in spreading God’s Kingdom through sacrificial service and unconditional love.