Missionary Family Donum Dei

The Missionary Family Donum Dei was founded by Fr. Marcel Roussel (1910-1984) of the diocese of Besançon (France) and was affiliated to the Carmelite Order on 22 February 1987, as a part of the Carmelite Third Order Secular.

In 1947, Fr. Roussel wrote, "I am drawn to the pagan masses. I would like to evangelise them with the help of young women, virgins, totally dedicated to God. As virgins they would bring light to the world of labour", by testifying that every human being, in whatever state of life, is called to holiness.

On 11 February 1950, he gathered together in Saint Denis (France) the first Missionary Workers of the Immaculate Conception. These women began to live in community where they shared everything. They went to work in factories and bars, where they witnessed to the Merciful Love of Jesus, recalling the image of Jesus at Jacob’s Well in his encounter with the Samaritan woman (Jn 4).

The Founder put before these Missionary Workers the image of the Virgin Mary as their first model, along with the examples of the virgins of the early Church, of St. Joan of Arc. He also gave them the spirituality of Thérèse of Lisieux and of Francis de Sales.

In 1958, they opened new missions in the other continents. The family was becoming international. In 1961, they opened the first restaurants with the name "L’Eau Vive" which the Founder looked upon as "Carmels in the World". In these restaurants the Missionary Workers live out their consecration to Christ, as members of an international family, in the humble service of daily work. The restaurants are centres where the light of the Gospel shines through, the work of evangelisation is furthered and everyone is welcome.

Around the "L’Eau Vive" restaurants an apostolate has been developed step by step, in the poor areas.

The foundations are becoming more numerous while the Missionary Workers find new ways of fulfilling their mission: spiritual accompaniment in a shanty town in Brazil; teaching religion in colleges and schools on the island of Wallis; involvement in parish work and in the apostolate of Marian shrines.

In 1982, Fr. Roussel began a group of associate members called the "Donum Dei Fraternity", made up of families, mothers, young people, who would be missionaries in their homes and places of work.

In 1984, the Founder united the Missionary Workers and the Fraternity in one spiritual family with the name of the "Missionary Family Donum Dei". Its headquarters are in Rome, Italy.