In the year 1974 St. Stella and Sr. Assuntha stayed in St. Ann’s convent Nalgonda, learned Telugu and began their ministry by visiting the villages along with Fr. Pezzoni. In 1976 the first group of 17 Aspirants joined the Franciscan sisters of the Immaculate, among them 4 of them succeed in making their first profession in the year 1981 namely Sr.Cecily and sr. Louisa made their first profession in Spain Valencia and Sr. Aruna and Sr. Goretti made their first profession in nalgonda.
In the year 1976 sisters begin to offer their service in a small hut teaching catechism and moral education for the children and in a small room to offer service to the leprosy patients ,later on Sr. Montserrat , Sr. Carmen Gonsalves , then sr. Carmen martin , Sr. Gloria and Sr. Emilia came to India to continue their service .
Over the years, the mission has grown, with the help of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. Today, the center includes a school and boarding l for 350 children, a hospital, where 150 leprosy sufferers are in care, and the colony of Shanti Nagar, where house for elderly patients are taken care. In addition to the little children living in the colony, Fr. Pezzoni has extended its service to other villages in Telangana, helping 3,500 children for scholarship and five thousand leprosy patients giving pension for their personal maintenance. Every year, nearly five thousand poor children and children of patient’s children receive a scholarship from the center.
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