Franciscan Sisters

About us

Our congregation is primarily based in Germany. Twenty girls from the state of Kerala who belonged to Trichur Diocese took an adventurous step and left for Germany in 1965 and 1966 to join our congregation. After the intense training in German language and the studies for religious life they made their religious profession in 1967 and 1968. They acquired professional training as nurses and Kindergarten teachers and rendered their services in the various institutes of the Congregation for six to eleven years.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit to branch out to India, two of the Indian sisters Sr.Josita and Sr.Tesia were selected to be the pioneers of the Indian Mission. On October 30^th 1976 Sr.Josita and Sr.Tesia reached in Hazaribag, India. The following years the other 12 Indian sisters also came back to India two by two. The last batch came in 1980. Since we had no community of our own they stayed with the Holy Cross sisters in Hazaribag to learn languages English and Hindi. First Convent of Franciscan sisters of Dillingen in India was blessed on 2nd October 1981 in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. On 22nd December 1981 our first two candidates Sr.Rosilin Augustine and Elsy joined us and Sr.Rosilin Augustine continues to serve the Congregation with full dedication and zeal.
On 1st January 1985 we became a Region and Sr.Tesia Ollukaran was the first Regional Superior. On 1st January 2000 our Region was erected as a Province and Sr.Sophia Vadukkoot was the First Provincial Superior of our Province, Mary, Mother of Good Counsel. During the course of time the Province grew and now we are 112 sisters, engaged in different missionary activities such as Education, Health Ministry, Pastoral care, Family apostolate, Social work, Hostel for tribal girls and working women, Day care centre for old ladies.