Imbued by the zeal of Euphrasie, the sisters opened a school for the girls of the Anglo-Indian Community on 1st August 1946. At the outset, they had just five students, but they took on other ministries including teaching catechism in the parish, visiting families and caring for the victims of the riots. Before long, more students began to enroll and the need for bigger space became urgent, in order to set up the school.

The search was rewarded when they came upon a small piece of land with a two story mansion, consisting of 14 large marbled rooms. The building was owned by a Mrs. De, a Hindu woman who during the Hindu-Muslim riot decided she wished to leave the city. The price was high; however the property was purchased with the support of the Bishop, Monsignor Terrandy and financial aid from our Sisters in Akyab & Decca. The sisters saw that it would meet the increased needs of the school, and an appropriate dwelling for the sisters. Political turmoil continued to escalate in India at this time, resulting the cration of two countries i.e. Pakistan and India.

The new property at Park circus truly reflected the poverty of the sisters, yet there was a rare pride in educating what became thousands of students with Christian values, while preparing them for Cambridge Examination, London. Additional to the ministries undertaken by the community, the Queen of the Missions house welcomed RNDM travelers from Bangladesh, Shillong and other congregations like Salesians and Spanish Sisters on route to North Eastern part of India. By 1947, six more sisters joined the community. So the sisters opened the Little Flower Homeopathy dispensary in response to local needs. Also art and sewing classes for the poor.

The school flourished with many Catholics girls from all cultural groups, and the education of these girls became the top priority of the sisters.

However, Mother Marie Aime Hofostetter who joined the community in 1952, took charge of the Dispensary and played an active part in social service. God blessed her with many laurels and recognitions from the government and ordinary people for her outstanding service to the poor of Kolkata. In 1968, the community further extended its dedicated mission of education when they opened Free Hindi afternoon school for the underprivileged girls of this vicinity. Space was the greatest poverty of this community and yet in 1973 it gladly welcomed the transfer of the Provincialate from St. Joseph’s Convent Shillong, for a variety of reasons.

The convent and the school community developed a strong reputation for good education in Kolkata, serving the middle class and the poor of the city with education as its main concern. The alumni of the school now run the dispensary with the help of doctors who were once students of the school. The RNDMs are not as actively involved in the Parish Ministry today as we were earlier, but we have always been generous in meeting Parish requests and need for service and support. The RNDM community in Kolkata is blessed with many good friends and well wishers with their advice and support.