In India

The Foreign Missions Institute was already 6 years old when sisters were sent to India for the first time. It was at the request of Msgr Colas, bishop of Pondicherry, that five sisters were sent to open a mission in Chinnasalem. They were: Sr Marie Joseph, Sr Marie Denise, Sr Marie Germaine, Sr Marie Clotilde and Sr Marie Thérèse.

After the departure ceremony on 3rd October 1937 at the mother house ‘La Motte’, they boarded the ship in Marseille. They sailed for 21 days and landed in Pondicherry. MEP priests welcomed them, and took them to the bishop’s house where they met Msgr Colas. There after, they were taken to Cuddalore where they stayed for six months learning Tamil, in the Mission bungalow put at their disposal, while the convent of Chinnasalem was being built.

On 8th May 1938, Msgr Colas himself took them to Chinnasalem. Fr Grandjany was waiting for them. He had built a church and a convent in a hindu village.

As they were full of enthusiasm and good will, they started working immediately. With their basics of Tamil, they contacted people and opened a free dispensary. They visited the neighbouring villages, once or twice a week, either on foot or on bullock-carts or went by bus to the most remote areas, raising curiosity among the people who had never met any foreigner.

One of them remarks that in 1939, Mr Germain sent bicycles from France to replace bullock carts. It saved quite a lot of money very helpful during those hard times. They had to buy food and medicines and take care of abandoned children whom they received.

Everybody was surprised to see them doing everything by themselves, even cultivating the fields around the convent (as they used to do in La Motte!) even without taking into account the climate or any eventuality.

A christian who met them in Chinnasalem said a few years later: They never said “we can not do that” but they did everything by themselves”. I have never seen sisters like these ones. In the villages they used to heal the wounds, abscesses, scabies, and leprosy, nothing scared them. These sisters didn’t talk much about Jesus or the Gospel but their way of life was evangelizing. This experience of my childhood has helped me a lot as a christian. Even in the secondary school, I didn’t have this experience of friendship and service. I thank God for giving me that opportunity.

The starting of the war in Europe in 1939 interrupted all communication with France. Though inexperienced and left without any guidance or resources, they proved quite strong and with admirable faith, until their health could no longer resist.

Sometime later some sisters got typhoid but more or less recovered. Only Sr Marie Clotilde had a few relapses with complications. She died of exhaustion two years later, on 18th May 1942 at Balmadis in a mission bungalow where she had gone to take rest with some sisters.

It was their first holidays since their arrival. One can read in a note written by one of them: “The youngest sister had completed her mission, paying with her sufferings and her life. Her body layed on the mountain at the cemetery of Balmadis.”

Life continued in Chinnasalem, in spite of numerous difficulties and health problems. There was a new epidemic of cholera, which took away many children.

Fortunately, the war in Europe was over and communication with France was re-established. As early as 1944, Msgr Colas asked the sisters to leave Chinnasalem and come to Pondicherry. The sisters who had been shaken by so many terrible events happily accepted the offer.

St Antony’s Convent

In 1945 the Indian sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Blue Sisters) took charge of the convent of Chinnasalem and opened a school. The four Foreign Missions sisters arrived in Pondicherry on 14th September 1945. They stayed in the mission bungalow at Uppalam for some time waiting for a new place.

Msgr Colas had a project to install the sisters at the exit of the town as there was no convent, in a suburb called “Attupatti” where a lot of people from the town and surrounding villages worked for three large thriving spinning mills.

The sisters continued from Uppalam their visit to Attupatti till 26th August 1946. At last they could settle in a house built by the mission for them. They had four rooms and a large dormitory on the ground floor, a terrace roof and a veranda all around. Msgr Colas dedicated it to the Holy Family and name it “Nazareth Convent”. He blessed the place as soon as the sisters settled down, but there were only three sisters because Sr Marie Joseph was called back to France in May 1946.

The community was growing, and it was necessary to broaden the living space. Therefore, they replaced the roof of coconut leaves by a stronger construction. As early as in 1954, a large dormitory was built, thus freeing the rooms on the ground floor for other day activities. A bigger chapel for the community was arranged in a room adjoining St Antony’s chapel.

There were two coconut fields right next to St Antony’s enclosure. After two years of negotiation and thanks to the help of a Hindu neighbour and of a Muslim lawyer, they could buy the farthest field, the one, which St Antony had very likely used occasionally, and then they could exchange it with the second one, adjoining St Antony’s enclosure.

St. Antony of the Poor

Fr Chauvet was surprised to see a small chapel dedicated to “St Anthony of the poor” maintained by Hindus for a few years. According to a tradition, Muslims had discovered this statue buried while they were working at the government slaughter house. At the request of a catholic lady it had been placed in a small chapel built by the side of Ariankuppam road.

When the war started in 1939, more and more christians started coming there and the priest tried in vain to contain that wave of pious devotees. In 1940, when the catholic workers association tried to bring back the statue to Nattangal Alai, he tried to intervene. With the Bishop’s authorization and after numerous steps it was decided that in the beginning of October, St Antony would be brought back to Nattangal Alai. It was a real celebration: the statue was placed in the hands of the parish priest of the cathedral who put it on a procession chariot to take it to its new chapel, a big hall of the unused factory. Ever since, on every Tuesday, it has attracted many fervent visitors, christians and hindus.

Fr Chauvet who related those events a few years later, wrote: “St Antony’s presence is an opportunity for some of them to be reconciled with God through sacraments and even get converted”. Truly, St Antony of Nattangal Alai has remained “St Antony of the poor”, and now thanks to him the Foreign Missions sisters have opened a school there.

St Antony’s School

The sisters arrived at Ouppalam on 14th September 1945 and started to work immediately. As early as 1st October, they organized visits to contact the local people. The plan for a ‘Nursery’ for the children of the women workers of the factory could not be achieved. The sisters were not allowed to enter the factory because of many troubles between the trade unions.

Therefore the sisters concentrated their activities around St Antony. Their letters say: “Monday, 8th October: beginning with 5 girls. 2nd week: 10 children and 15 teenagers. 3rd week: 30 young girls and on a Tuesday, first sale of baby bootees knit by the Sisters: 3 Rupees”.

Little by little more children started coming and learned discipline. In December 1945, they were already 80 and the sisters with the help of a qualified teacher, decided to teach in Tamil.

The Mission had given each sister a sum of 50 rupees per month for the services rendered at the school. That was useful to pay the teachers and to take the necessary steps to get the school recognized by the local Government which did not give any help. Since the children were very poor, asking fees from the children was out of question. On the contrary, they were in urgent need of extra food and clothes.

It is true that Providence helps the most deprived! First of all, a bag of rice given every month by a Hindu charitable institution “Sataram” enabled the poor children to have some food for lunch. Later on, sisters received some food products from America. Also, at every Christmas, textile mills gave cloth to dress boys and girls. The factory “Savana” got quite involved by meeting the expenses of the education of its workers’ children. At St Antony, life was getting organized; there were more and more students: 80 at the beginning and then 120. For the youngest ones, the most ordinary means were used: a shelter made of bamboos and coconut leaves. In the year 1952, the school had 220 children, and the government increased its grant.

Fortunately, St Antony was very generous, because, during three successive weeks, one 100-rupee note was found in the ‘dumb box’…. altogether a collection of 300 rupees!!! Was it not a miracle? Or was it a discreet donation of generous benefactor? Right from the beginning, Mission had allowed the sisters to have the “income” of St Antony to help their “charitable works”.

The school was not big enough to accept more illiterate children. Once more, “Providence” came to help in unexpected ways! A ‘French government representative’ offered to construct buildings for the school and the orphanage. Actually, French government, through the “Plan Fides” had released funds for the equipment for private institutions teaching overseas. According to its instructions, plans could be drawn and presented for the subsidies.

In October 1954, one of the sisters organized an ‘Indian dance evening party’ to collect funds to buy a car. The programme was cancelled due to some trouble that day. But those who bought the tickets refused to be reimbursed. So that money was used to buy the car.

Some people who had taken interest in “those sisters who never asked anything” also insisted on organizing a ‘village fair’. It was done in the following year, thus bringing extra money for the equipment and the running of the school.

In December 1954, thanks to the funds collected, six classrooms, a dormitory and an infirmary for the orphan girls were built.

The ground of St Antony was too small to build a school. Therefore, sisters decided to purchase a nearby plot of land to build a school. The project was strongly encouraged by Msgr Colas who wished the sisters to be self-reliant in the future.

In September, new orders came from Delhi. Sisters were obliged to abide by the new methods of education.

The government demanded the Institute to be the owner of the premises in order to be in charge of the school. Msgr Ambrose attested that the sisters had the full right on St Antony.

Under the care of Fr Caillault mep, director of the mission, the works for the school were going on well. He had a very competent team of masons. As early as December 1957, the orphanage was built and inaugurated by Msgr Ambrose to the greatest joy of the orphan girls. A few girls from remote villages gradually joined them for further education.

Six classes were started in February 1958, and at the beginning of the school year, the school counted 360 children and 10 school teachers. Thanks to the new equipment, work was made easier and 82 children passed the final exams at the end of the year. Actually it was necessary to adopt gradually the Indian educational system and change into English.

In 1960, there was a need for new classes for the children who finished primary school but could not find any secondary school. The first floor was built on the existing buildings due to the help from Belgium and a contribution from the bishop’s house.

Tailoring School

There were 70 girls in the tailoring course and some of them were already able to make things for sale which helped them get some money.

The classes were taking place in the classrooms adjacent to St Antony’s chapel. They were very hot and uncomfortable under a tin roof, but the tailoring classes were taking place under a huge mango tree in the middle of the yard.

The tailoring course grew very fast, and thanks to the objects made there, women in great difficulty could be paid while girls were preparing for tailoring course exams. Steps were taken to link the tailoring course to an acknowledged institution at Cuddalore in the Indian Territory. Since there were cement tables and benches, they could work more comfortably under the mango tree. As for the tailoring exams, they were to go every year to Cuddalore. 50 girls of the tailoring course went to Cuddalore to sit for tailoring exams.

Petit Séminaire

In 1946, Msgr Colas asked for five more sisters for Pondicherry to replace St Gabriel brothers as they were retiring from the French section of the Mission secondary school (it was called “Petit Séminaire”).

Those five sisters were: Sr Marie Elizabeth, Sr Marie Odile, Sr Marie Régina, Sr Marie Christiane and Sr Marie Honoré, appointed in August 1946. After a solemn ‘send off’ celebration on 3rd October, they could not leave for Pondicherry. So on 26th November they boarded the “Felix Roussel” one of the first ships returning to the Far East after the war. It was converted into a ship for troops and there were about thirty sisters of different congregations, even Carmelites, found themselves in a common dormitory, in a very friendly and humorous environment. They landed in Colombo and arrived in Pondicherry shortly before Christmas.

The Tamil classes started immediately. Every day, they used to go to Saint Louis de Gonzague sisters to get the basics of that new language. But they only had time to learn the alphabets since they had to be at the Secondary School (Petit Séminaire).

The four of the newly arrived sisters were in charge of several subjects in the classes of the French section, from the 3rd grade to the 10th grade. The school also included a very important English section.

Social and Medical services

On Thursdays, the sisters were going on bicycles, two by two, to visit nearby and remote villages. There were no dispensaries and the sick had to walk miles to get the slightest medicine. Abscesses, diarrheas, infected wounds were quite common. Epidemics of cholera, smallpox and typhoid fever, not yet subdued, broke out periodically especially in 1948, 1949 and 1950, killing entire families.

Gradually the sick were coming to St Antony for medical care, and every morning they were admitted in a small room next to the chapel. People were treated with a few basic medicines and the more serious cases were sent to the government hospital.

From 1949 the government pharmacy provided free medicine costing 800 rupees per year, and that was a great help. Dr Bigot, the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, managed to get that help in gratitude for the services rendered by the sisters in the villages during the epidemics. Later, the surpluses sent from America enabled the sisters to care for more people.

At the end of 1950, the co-foundress Mother Marie Dolores, on her visit to India, found everybody fit and very active. At the beginning of 1952, Doctor André, the head of the hospital, offered the sisters to collaborate with the French Red Cross committee, which was building a dispensary near St Antony. It was agreed that a qualified sister would be sent from France to be there at the opening of the dispensary.

At the end of the year, the free health care center ‘Jean Mermoz’ was ready. It was inaugurated on 19th January 1953. The expected sister did not arrive! They had to manage only with an Indian doctor and a male nurse appointed by the Red Cross. The small health care center of St Antony was closed. Therefore there was a rush towards “Jean Mermoz”: 250 sick people every day and 80 babies for medical care and milk distribution. In front of that success, the Red Cross officials asked for a social worker in order to spread the action and add a social center. At the end, instead of a nurse, Sr Marie-Paul, a social worker, arrived on 7th December 1953.

There were also troubles in the health center ‘Jean Mermoz’ where 150 newborn babies were received everyday… The transactions with the Indian Red Cross were quite slow.

On 10th January 1955, the visit of Pandit Nerhu took place with a huge gathering in the city. On 25th January, the high commissioner accompanied by the Indian Social Welfare official, visited all the institutions. The representatives of the institutions were summoned on 6th February and the government made an inventory of all the available persons who could take part in the social work that was going to be organized. Everybody was represented, including members of Ashram.

As early as 11th February, a social center was entrusted to the care of the sisters in a village, 15 kms away from Pondicherry. From then on, they could use a government jeep to visit the village where two ladies, hastily hired, were teaching Tamil to the children and giving basic education to the women.

St. Antony’s dispensary at Attupatti

In April 1956 sisters had the opportunity to rent a small plot of land, which belonged to a pagoda. It was situated just next to the convent wall. The only condition imposed was to respect the dwelling of a cobra, which was there. That very discreet tenant never showed up!

The transactions for the plot of land eventually came to an end in March 1956 on the feast of St Joseph. Since a year, a Belgian Mission settled near Madras to introduce a new method in India, which had been quite successful in Africa. The discovery of an efficient sulphonamide against leprosy had revolutionized the method of treatment, allowing the sick to stay with their families at home.

Dr. Hemerijick, in charge of that center worked in the same way. Due to lack of personnel, only a few lepers could be helped in the visited villages.

Orphanage

When the sisters left Chinasalem, they took two orphans along with them. A few abandoned girls had joined them. As there was no place available, they were accommodated in a corner of the large room, which was used as a chapel, separated by a high partition. By the side, there was an Indian type kitchen which was used by everybody.

In October 1955, the new government demanded the Institute to get registered as per the Indian laws. Delhi accepted to allot some help for the equipment of the orphanage.

As early as 24th January 1956, a government representative paid a surprise visit to verify the use of the help received. Every book and record was inspected; children and girls were questioned individually: were they well treated? Were they brain washed and were they made to say prayers? Weren’t they asked any money? Their replies proved that the sisters were working without any personal interest. The gentleman was surprised and he then concluded: “They are not normal”!

Sisters received orphans and poor girls in the orphanage till 1963. But now, sisters keep a boarding for the poor girls coming from villages and slum areas to provide them education and protection.

Indian Novices

On leaving Marseille on 26th November 1946, Mother General had expressed her desire to see some Indian girls join the Institute. When two girls asked to join the community, they were welcomed with joy, and Msgr Colas gave at once a favourable reply for their admission. He himself came to welcome them on 15th June 1947.

On 3rd October 1948, Msgr Colas along with Msgr Mark presided over the initiation ceremony during which the first Indian sisters put on the religious dress in the presence of the sisters from two Indian communities of the town.

Now the novitiate is in Chennai in Besant Nagar parish. The novices are trained there to become Jesus’ disciples to bring the Good News to the whole world.

In December 1955 Msgr Colas got retired and Msgr Ambrose succeeded him on 15th February 1956.

House at Graigmore

In 1947 there was a plan to start a community in the diocese of Salem. Three sisters were asked to take charge of a dispensary for the workers of the coffee plantations on the heights of Yercaud.

On 17th April 1948, Sr Marie Cécile, Sr Marie Colette and Sr Marie Pierre arrived in Pondicherry. They stayed there for two months, waiting for their residential permit in India. Then Sr Marie Cécile, Sr Marie Colette and Sr Marie Germaine went to Graigmore on 15th June 1948, while Sr Marie Pierre stayed in Pondicherry to help the tailoring course.

The first elections in Pondicherry created trouble & fights. The school board, sensing the changes in a near future, decided to close down the smallest classes of the French section and freed Sr Marie Regina and Sr Marie Christiane. The latter could look after the novices while Sr Marie Regina could go to Madras to get the basics of the English methods applied in the pharmacy at the dispensary of Graigmore. At last, the Indian authorities acknowledged Sr Marie Cecile’s nursing diploma.

This is how the small seed so laboriously sown in Indian ground in 1937 has gradually developed its roots, and is still growing.

“To my Indian sisters who have taken over, and in memory of those who have adopted this country as their second home”
Author: Sister Andrée Rouquette (known as Sr. Marie Honoré)
Translated by Sisters Marie Josephe Catteau and Lily Marie

Bangalore

In 1966 the Novitiate was transferred from Pondicherry to Bangalore. Msgr D.S. Lourdusamy invited the sisters also to render their services in his archbishop’s house.

Sisters were visiting the slum area of Nehrupuram. There they found that girls were not going to school since they had to look after their younger brothers or sisters, so that their mothers could work as domestic servants. Then the French sisters Marie Paul de la Bathie and Marie Françoise opened a ‘Nursery’ for the babies from 6 months onwards. This ‘Nursery’ is still receiving about 30 babies. Sisters also run a hostel for working girls. It gives a safe shelter for the working girls who come to find job in Bangalore.

First house in Andhra Pradesh:

In 1969, Msgr Showry Thumma, the then Bishop of Nellore paid a visit to Notre Dame de La Motte in France, and requested the Superior General to open a mission in his diocese.

So, in July 1970, Sr Madeleine Mangel and Sr Theresa started a mission in Tallapalem with one candidate called Fatima. They opened a small dispensary to treat the patients for ordinary health problems. Now it is developed and receives the aid’s patients and the children left as orphans by deceased patients. Many aid’s patients are treated and given medicine and provision for their livelihood.

Kavali

While seeing the needs of the people sisters were encouraged to open another community in 1971 in Kavali, a town with 30,000 people.

Sr M Josephine was sent to strengthen the community and some other sisters were sent regularly to work with them. She visited the neighbouring villages and found women without job. So she started a center called “Asha Nikethan” means “Abode of Hope” where illiterate women learned “Kalamkari”, an art of Andhra Pradesh. Now it is developed and is giving livelihood for more than 50 women. “Asha Nikethan” is a Registered NGO (Non-Government Organization, Reg.No.51/73).

The center provide also Medical Facilities to the sick, to detect, treat and follow-up of Leprosy, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other ailments in the Project area.

Tallapallem

As the needs for intervention in the areas of Health & community development programme increased, a rural health center was started in the year 1978 in Tallapallem area of the Kavali Mandal to cover more villages in and around Thalapallam.

The Rural Health Centre located in Tallapalem covers 29 villages with 500 000 people. Tallapalem is a rural area situated 10 kms away from Kavali urban area. Rural Health Center has both inpatient and outpatient services. The Center is a 25-bed mini hospital and cares for 300 out-patients.

The center provides services to Leprosy patients and cares for the persons affected by T.B and HIV/AIDS.

Chennai:

In 1973, the novitiate was shifted to Chennai from Bangalore. From that date regularly girls are joining the Institute for the service of the Lord. This formation house prepares the candidates to live the charism “To go outside of one’s country as to remain inside of one’s country”.

Thirukkoilur

In 1987, a small community was opened to run a mobile clinic in the villages, to teach tailoring and to do the pastoral work. Now it offers opportunity for the village youngsters to learn computer science.

Pappanallur

Sisters are involved in the pastoral service of the parish, prepare the children and adults for the sacraments and conduct youth programmes as well as Basic Christian Community meetings. Sisters teach also in the diocesan school of the village and guide the students for higher studies and prepare to place them in other institutions.

Indore / Bhandaria

In 1996, a small community was opened with four sisters. They were sent among the tribal people. Then after some experience it was not able to continue there, so the community was shifted to Indore.

Now sisters collaborate with the social service center of the Indore diocese and work also in the institutions run by other religious.

Mysore

In 2000, sisters opened a community in the mission state of their founder Fr Albert Nassoy. In the beginning sisters looked after the slum children by giving them tuition and organizing tailoring classes to young girls.

Now sisters look after the education of the prisoners’ children, pastoral visit to the christians migrated from Tamil Nadu and to youth groups of the parish. One sister works in diocesan hospital and another works in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics.