Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy, Visakhapatnam Province
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph traces its origins to 1650 in Le Puy, France, where Fr. Jean Pierre Médaille, S.J., founded a community of women dedicated to serving God through humble and compassionate service to the poor and marginalized. Despite the setbacks of the French Revolution, the Congregation was revived in 1808 under Mother St. John Fontbonne and continued to grow, carrying forward its mission of love, unity, and service.
In India, the Congregation began its mission in 1849 when four courageous Sisters arrived at Yanam at the invitation of Bishop Neyret of the Vicariate of Visakhapatnam. They devoted themselves to the education and empowerment of women and children, recognizing education as a powerful means of overcoming poverty and restoring human dignity. Today, the Sisters of St. Joseph continue the vision of their founder across the world, serving humanity through education, healthcare, social outreach, and pastoral ministries, with a special commitment to the poor and the neglected.
The Sisters of St. Joseph serve in France, East Africa, England, West Africa, and India, carrying forward their mission of compassionate service and Christian witness.
In India, the Congregation is organized into two Provinces:
- Visakhapatnam Province
- Bhubaneswar Province
The Province of Visakhapatnam comprises 25 communities engaged in diverse ministries across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Arunachal Pradesh. The Sisters serve in the areas of:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Prison Ministry
- Women Empowerment
- Collaborative Ministries and
- Direct Evangelization
The Province has a strength of approximately 200 Sisters, of whom 25 have been sent as missionaries to serve in different countries. Wherever they minister, the Sisters strive to share the compassionate love of God received through prayer, fostering the Congregation’s charism of Double and Total Union—a profound union with God and with one another.
The Province of Visakhapatnam proudly achieved a world record by producing 12 lakh seed balls within one hour, with the enthusiastic participation of 16 institutions. This remarkable environmental initiative reflects the Congregation’s commitment to ecological sustainability, community collaboration, and the care of our common home.