In November 1967, Mother M. Cleta visited India for the second time, accompanied by Sr. Wiltrud. They brought with them Sr. Rudolfa Pulickal and Sr. Lucida Thadathanayil to help the German sisters to establish the Indian mission. In February 1968 Sr. Gabriela came along with Sr. Francis Mannarkulam to stay at Kumily. However, Sr. Gabriela had to return to Germany after a week. The three German sisters were called back to Germany by the end of 1968. The 3 young Indian sisters were supported by Sr. Priscilla and Sr. Mary of the Cross, members of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross from Bombay. These sisters were entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the Indian sisters for a few months.
In 1969, Mother M. Cleta came to Kumily for the third time, accompanied by Sr. M. Wiltrud, Sr. Justinia and Sr. Emily. This time Mother M. Cleta Höschen came to an agreement with the Medical Mission Sisters to hand over to them our convent, the hospital and the land for three years. Sr. Stella and Sr. Vineetha did their General nursing in Germany and returned to India in 1970.
They were sent for Mid-Wifery Training in St. Marthas Hospital, Bangalore. In 1971, Sr. Stella and Sr. Vineetha returned to Kumily. They worked together with the Medical Mission Sisters in the hospital for some time to acquire an all round experience. Sr. Suma joined the two sisters at Kumily in 1972.
A new mission was started in 1972 in Sendhwa, M.P. in the Diocese of Indore. In 1972, Mother M. Cleta came to Kumily and Sendhwa, her fourth and the last visit to India. She was accompanied by Sr. Wiltrud, Sr. M. Ilma, Sr. Josua and Sr. Isabella. Sr. Isabella and Sr. Josua stayed for some months at Kumily. Mother M. Cleta terminated the agreement with the Medical Mission Sisters.
The Augustinian Sisters of Cologne took over the administration of the Indian mission under the guidance of the Superior General. Sr. M. Vineeta was appointed as the first Superior at Kumily. Though the Indian mission had to struggle very much in its initial stage, God in his providence kept the Indian mission as the apple of his eye and protected it in his own divine plan to spread out to the different parts of India.
In 1972, Sr. Nikodema Rützenhoff was elected the Superior General of the Congregation.
In the course of these years, some of the sisters made their final commitment in their respective mission stations. More and more of our Indian sisters returned to India to pursue their professional training. They also spread out and dedicated their service to other parts of India. The last Indian sister returned to India in 1981.
Sr. M. Domitilla joined the Indian mission in 1978 and was a pioneer of the Andhra mission. She opened two mission stations in the interior villages of Andhra Pradesh.
The sisters focused mainly on nursing care. However, at later stages they entered into the field of education, catechetical work and social work to respond to the signs of the time and needs of the people in keeping with the Charism of the Congregation.
Sr. Wiltrud arrived in India on 11 July 1979 and stayed on for ten long years as the Delegate Superior and later on as the first Regional Superior of the Indian Region.
The Indian Mission started its formation programme for its sisters in 1975. The Aspirancy was at Kumily and the Novitiate in Bangalore.
The Superior Generals and the Superiors of the Congregation in Germany and Belgium showed great care, interest and concern for the young and growing mission in India at the various stages of its development. They opened mission stations and institutions in various states of India under different dioceses. A keen interest was taken to train sisters for different professions. The Indian mission was raised to a region in 1981. Our great dream was fulfilled when thirteen years later in 1994, the Indian region was erected as a province.
Regions: All our convents in Kerala were brought under a region: Marian region was erected on 19th November 2005 under the Oriental Rite. The regional house was initially at Kumily. It was shifted to Aduvasserry, Ernakulam diocese in 2014. It serves also as a centre for children (boys) who come under prison ministry. The convents in M.P and Gujarat were brought under a second region: St. Monica was erected on 24th April 210. The convent Suklia at Indore is the regional house of M. P. These fast developments are living symbols of the maternal care that the Indian mission has received from the Mother Congregation.
At present the Congregation serves the Church in India in Seven States: Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam and Odisha. We work in 13 dioceses. At present we are 173 sisters, of whom 16 are working in Germany. We have 27 communities in India and 3 communities in Germany.