The Order of the Ministers of the Sick, popularly known as Camillians, is a Religious Institute founded by St. Camillus de Lellis. The Order is committed to quality and comprehensive health of the society with a preferential option for the poor sick. It was in 1582 Camillus had the first intuition or inspiration to organize a group of good pious men, who for God’s love, would serve the sick with that charity and loving kindness that only mothers are capable of for their sick children. Pope Sixtus V, with the brief “Ex Omnibus”, of March 18, 1586, approved the new foundation, with the official name of the Company of the Ministers of the Sick. Later, on September 21, 1591 Pope Gregory XIV elevated the Company to an Order through the bull “Illius quo pro gregis”.

Despite frequent epidemics that decimated the numbers of the “Servants of the Sick” – the Order grew and spread across Europe, and the rest of the world. “To serve the sick, even with danger to one’s own life” became the Order's fourth vow.

St. Camillius de Lellis is the Founder and Patron of the Order. His life marked a turning point in medical care as we know it today. It also marked the beginning of a brotherhood that now spans the world and provides leadership in healthcare through Christian charity and love. On May 25, 1550, Camilla Compelli de Laureto – at almost sixty years of age – gave birth to Camillus de Lellis in Bucchianico, Italy. 

Camillus was welcomed with great joy, also with much anxiety, for his birth was preceded by a strange dream that profoundly disturbed his mother. She saw her son with a cross on his chest leading other men with a similar cross. “An ominous cross,” she thought, for it was the sign of those condemned to death in the gallows. Her son, she feared, would end up a leader of a gang of criminals. The saintly woman died with that anguish in her heart when the boy was only thirteen. Camillus’ father, Giovanni de Lellis, an army captain, paid no attention to his wife’s dreams. But the wild boyhood of his son, given over to gambling and rowdy companions seems to have supported those fears.

Camillus followed his father in a military career, and over the course of many years, lived recklessly with a compulsion for gambling. A leg injury resulting in numerous hospitalizations caused him a great deal of grief. He resigned himself to a life as a construction worker at the monastery of the Capuchins in Manfredonia, Italy, after leaving the military. The Friars gradually discovered the natural goodness of the man beneath the rough exterior, and in 1575, at the age of 25, Camillus experienced a spiritual conversion and resolved to reform his life and dedicate himself to the service of God. Still afflicted by his leg wound, Camillus de Lellis entered St. James’ Hospital in Rome, where he would live and work among his brothers, the sick. One night he had the inspiration to assemble a group of good men willing to dedicate themselves to the sick. Later on he took up studies for the priesthood and led an army of “Servants of the Sick” against the plague and epidemics that infested Rome. Ordained at the age of 34, Camillus might be what we today sometimes refer to as a “delayed vocation”.

Camillus chose a red cross as the distinguishing badge for the members of his Order to wear upon their black cassocks. Once when he was discouraged, he heard the consoling words from the crucifix, “This is my work, not yours”. After leading the movement throughout Italy, Camillus died on July 14, 1614.

In 1742, Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed Camillus de Lellis blessed; in 1746 he canonized him, calling him the “Founder of a new school of charity”. St. Camillus continues to inspire because of his undeniable human nature. A “delayed” vocation, he did not hear the calling to serve the sick until well into his 20’s. And until that point, he lived a decidedly unsaintly life. A “giant” in stature and charity, his spirit is very much present today in the life of each Camillian.

Camillians came to India in 1980 when Fr. Antonio Crotti received the permission to begin our formation work in Mananthavady diocese in Kerala. Fr. Crotti recruited candidates who would study in the diocesan minor seminary for our Congregation. It was in 1983 the Camillians first started their own seminary under the guidance of Fr. George Padannamackal, C.M.I. In 1984 our newly built minor seminary in Mananthavady was inaugurated by the then Superior General of the Order, Fr. Calisto Vendrame. In 1985 Fr. Paulinus, O.S.B. took over the responsibility as the Rector of our minor seminary. For the major seminary formation, Camillians resorted to Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, in Bangalore. In 1985 Fr. Ernesto Nidini joined the Indian mission to lead and develop this young venture to greater heights. After staying for a few years in a rented house in Bangalore, our major seminary was inaugurated in 1989. The first batch of novices in India started their novitiate under Fr. Ermenegildo Calderaro on May 24th, 1989 in Mananthavady.

 Within few years, we started a minor seminary in Eluru Diocese, Andhra Pradesh. Next development was the establishment of a ministry house on the outskirts of Bangalore. Snehadaan was inaugurated in 1997 for the care of destitute and dying. This Centre later evolved to be a pioneer in the care and support of HIV /AIDS people. Learning from our experience at this centre, another centre for the care and support of HIV/AIDS started in Mangalore in 2001.

Next expansion was the beginning of a philosophy study house and seminary in Nagpur. The new house was inaugurated on November 9th, 2003. Meanwhile another minor seminary started functioning in a rented house in Trichy for the candidates from Tamilnadu.

 Camillians in India remained as a Mission of the Lombardo Venetian Province until 1997. In 1997 we became a Delegation of the mother province. At the moment the delegation is growing especially in developing its ministry activities, witnessing our unique charism of serving the sick.