For years many RNDMs had wanted a house in Kerala the state from which majority of Indian vocations, including RNDMs had come. We were first invited to the Diocese of Kollam in the 1960s by the Bishop Jerome Fernandez and Father James Puthenpurathe procurator but it took thirty years to realize our vision of opening a house in Kerala.

Sisters Ita Thattalithara and Amala Joseph accompanied by Father Puthenpura visited Punalur to see if a house could be opened there.On the way they stopped at Mangad where the Sisters were shown a possible property that might suit them. They opted for Mangad over Punalur and Preshitha Matha (“Mary the Missionary”) Convent was blessed on 03 September 1989 by Bishop Joseph Fernandez. The Parish Committee had offered an acre of land as financial assistance and to demonstrate their appreciation of the Sisters’ arrival. As it was a marshy land it was sold and the proceeds were used to buy a more suitable piece of land to build the convent. The building was partially funded by the diocese. The pioneers were Mary Stanislaus Thanickakunnel and Stella Thomas. The sisters took active part in parish activities – marriage preparation programmes, catechism classes for the children, and saving scheme programmes for women and social service was rendered. Sr. Anslema was invited to be on the staff in diocesan hospital. At the request of the people, an English medium school was opened, and more recently a high school has been added.