Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar

The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar (S.F.X.), commonly referred to as the Society of Pilar or the Pilar Fathers or the Agnel Ashram Fathers, is a Roman Catholic organization of priests and brothers. In the official Vatican-approved canonical language it is called a society of apostolic life.

Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier

Societas Missionariorum Sancti Francisci Xaverii Pilar Fathers
Campus of Pilar Seminary, Goa
Abbreviation	S.F.X.
Formation	c. AD 1887 (1887)
Founder	Fr. Jose Mariano Bento Martins
Type	Catholic religious order
Headquarters	Goa, India
Website	pilarsociety.org

The Society was formed on September 26, 1887 by a priest in south Goa, India called Father Jose Mariano Bento Martins, who, together with his three companions, decided to dedicate his life for the service of God's people. Their objective was very simply to be at the service of their bishop and be ready to work wherever they were sent. In 1891, the Society's Rules (Constitution) were approved by a local bishop. Father Bento Martins became the Society's first superior.

The Society did not live together, but remained working wherever they were sent by their bishop.

The Society grew slowly. From 1887 to 1934, the Society had no more than 21 members in total, and from 1896 to 1934 the Society never exceeded eight priests at one time. These priests lived in their places of work and their allegiance to the Society remained primarily on paper.

In 1957 the Father Agnel Ashram was founded at Bandra, Mumbai as a common house of the Society. Over the years it has expanded to become an important educational organisation.[1]