The Belgian missionary sisters of St. Charles Borromeo set their foot in South India, Tamil Nadu in the year 1929 at Ranipet. They worked with great enthusiasm in the southern region of India for about 40 years. They toiled touching the lives of many through the mission of compassion. The missionary zeal of the natives to join the band of arduous missionaries was none the less. It paved way for many mission stations.
To facilitate the administration, in 1982 Mother Marie Henriette the then Superior General announced the bifurcation of the Indian Province.
Provincial Superiors
On January 8, 1983 the installation of Sr. Renee as Provincial as the 1st Provincial of the newly formed Province was celebrated at Ranipet. Sr. Renee D’Souza with a positive attitude and with deep trust in the divine providence accepted the responsibility of steering this new Province along with her councilors Srs. Emelda. Francisca, Ignatius & Sagayamary M.
On January 25th 1984. Rev. Sr. Renee moved to the new quarters Charles Villa at no 18 North Bharathi Road, Perambur-11. The blessing on January 26th 1984 is written in Golden letters.
Under the stewardship of Rev. Sr. Ignatius Thomas who was appointed Provincial Superior in the year 1992 the Province grew gradually. The apostolic activities included coaching classes for the poor children studying in Government Schools. They ware also helped financially.
The sisters of St. Charles true to their charism moved to remote villages and have responded to the poor and marginalized efficiently. From Charles Villla the Provincial residence was once again transplanted the newly constructed Provincialate, to Adrien Villa at Surpattu Main Road Vinaygapuram on January 29th, 1998.
From 2000 to 2006 the Province was headed by Rev. Sr. Saroj. She envisioned finding new avenues to take up the challenging apostolic activities which enabled the growth and development of the Province in these years.
The Platinum Jubilee of the congregation in India was celebrated in a grand scale on 24, November, 2004 at Ranipet the first house in India, under the efficient leadership of the then Provincial Superior Sr. Saroj.
In the year 2006 Rev. Sr. Jaya was appointed as the Provincial Superior who led the Province up to 2012. In this rapidly changing world perceiving that life gets affected in all spheres by the changes, she with her far sighted vision responded to the signs of the time by encouraging the Sisters to reach out to the new poor, the destitute children, children in bonded labour, the aged, the refugees, dalits, HIV/AIDS patients, terminally ill, the abandoned and the marginalized.
In 2012 Sr.Virgie was chosen to be provincial superior, Sr.Lilly.K. Vice Provincial, Sr.Amali, Sr.Victoria Arul Rani and Sr.Josephine Nirmala Rani were appointed as provincial councillors. The vigorous and vigilant provincial team encouraged the sisters of the Province to launch into a front line ministry like prison ministry and taking care of the HIV affected, our thrust is poorest of the poor was given to theme on faith.
Province level faith day celebration was organized for all our educational institutions. Sisters are encouraged to go for higher studies. Warm and friendly approaches among the sisters, psychological and spiritual needs of the sisters are met, new websites and province information and communication management systems are being provided for the feasible and ready communication.
