The History of the Handmaids in India
- We came to India in 1968, to work in a school for children with an intellectual handicap, Mumbai Sewri.
- Set up our own school also for the Intellectually Handicapped in 1971 at Juhu DILKHUSH. Here we have a Teachers Training Centre, a Sheltered Workshop and a Creche. We went to KOCHI in 1977 to work with the Intellectually Handicapped.
- Spread to ROHA in 1990 and began working with Indigenous (tribal) people.
- Now have a hostel for their children. Moved to PUNE to set up a house of Formation in 1995.
- From KOCHI we spread to Vyppin in 2005, where we now have a playschool and a social service centre.
- Set off ORISSA in 2005, once more to enable Indigenous people going for higher education by setting up a hostel.
- In 2016, we shifted our Novitiate to Mangalore. Apart from the formation house we have a play school there.
The Region of India:
6th October 1997 is a memorable day in the history of Handmaids because it is on that day the Region of India was born to the Congregation. Indeed, a very special day for all the Handmaids in India! Sr. Josefina Llach, from Argentina was the First Regional Superior and was appointed by the late Sr. Rita Burley, the Mother General of that time. Sr. Josefina Llach guided and took care of the newly born Region till the year 2000.
Hereafter, Sr. Audry Andrade who guided the Region from 2000 to 2007.
Later, Sr. Aleena Rodrigues led the Region from 2007 to 2013.