Salesian Literature

Daughters of St. Francis de Sales

The Daughters of St. Francis de Sales (DSFS) are a missionary congregation co-founded by Mother Theresa Fantoni and Monsignor Don Carlo Cavina, Parish Priest of Lugo di Ravenna, Italy on the 23rd of August 1872. The congregation was established for the intent of promoting faith, educating youth and empowering the poor with the charism: "Where the Cross Touches, Fruit Comes Forth." The heavenly patron of the congregation is St. Francis de Sales and the patroness is St. Jane de Chantal.

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​On the 30th of January 1931, the Congregation obtained the "Decretum Ludis" for its constitution and in 1939 the congregation was conferred with Pontifical Rights. At present, the DSFS serve in Italy, England, Poland, India, Brazil, the Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya. Its apostolates include evangelization, education from pre-school through secondary school, vocational training, health care, orphanages, faith formation of youth, pastoral work, social work, the family apostolate, education and care of the physically challenged, health care of the elderly, girls' homes and hostels for working women.