In 1973 eleven sisters, who had their formation in Europe, started out to the south of their home country to open a new field of activity and responsibility. They involve with the poor and the socially deprived.
The first communities were opened in Tamil Nada, in Kerala and in Bangalore (Karnataka). From 1983 onwards young sisters had their formation there. In 1992 the sisters expanded their achtivities to West Bengal (northeast).
The target groups of the sisters service in each of the 4 federal states are first and foremost women, children, the youth, “Dalits“ (the untouchables) and the tribal people.
At present the province of India comprises 90 sisters who live in 21 communities.
The provincial council is in Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu).10 sisters of India live their mission in other countries.
Main focuses of the apostolic activities
Health care
Though public health service does exist, there are many problems in rural areas such as malnutrition, the lack of proper drinking water and unhygienic conditions. The lack of sanitary facilities is often the cause of infectious diseases...medical attendance does not suffice. For this reason health education and health protection is very important.
* Therefore sisters train health-workers for the villages.
* They provide instruction for the production and use of herbal medicines.
* Sisters serve in dispensaries maternity homes, hospitals,…
Education:
Basically school-attendance is compulsory for children between 6 and 14. Due to the poverty of many families there is still child-labour, there is a great number of early school-leavers and analphabets..
Girls in particular are discriminated. Private schools offer the chance of education but poor people cannot afford them.
* Sisters serve in nursery schools. This is very important because the children help to make and keep the contact with parents ,especially with the mothers.
Training courses and meetings on education and awareness building, on child-psychology and children’s diseases are provided.
* Sisters support school-education via through teaching and giving extra tuition. They provide boarding and hostel facilities for poor girls...
* The sisters opened a nursery and primary school in a village near Bangalore as the children of very poor families could not afford to attend distant schools.
Pastoral involvement-Family apostolate
* Sisters offer catechesis and take part in youth ministry…
* They work in Basic Christian Communities for a renewal of Christian life: they want to encourage values such as solidarity or sharing in the neighbourhood.
* Groups of Christian families are established for the purpose of common prayer, reading the gospel and to bring connection to everyday-life..
Social area –Awareness building
In order to understand the cause of poverty and injustice in its manifold aspects and in order to find ways to overcome oppression and exploitation, it is important that people are trained to express themselves...
As a consequence of changed life- style and of globalisation, the number of mental illnesses increases, especially among women.
* Sisters form groups for women so that they can speak about their problems, acquire the ability to lead....
* In Mananthavady (Kerala) the "Jeevan Dhara psychosoial centre of rehabilitation for mentally sick women “ was opened, providing treatment, courses and counsellimg service...
