Capitanio Convent at Begumpet became the Provincial House of the Secunderabad Province from June 1980. When the Province started in 1962 it was housed in St. Francis Convent, Secunderabad. There weren’t sufficient facilities to accommodate the increasing number of sisters in St. Francis Convent and the need was felt to shift the Provincial House to another convenient place. Thus the new Provincial House at Begumpet came into existence.

The Provincial House accommodated the Provincial Superior and her team, the student sisters and few sisters to help in the Provincialate. The candidates were also housed in a separate building with a Sister in-charge. This house was quiet and enjoyed the freshness of nature. The sisters entered its portals with joy and expectation when they came for their retreats, seminars, chapters, consultations, inter-provincial meetings, canonical visits by Mother General etc.

In 2003, at the end of the canonical visit of Mother General, Mother PierCarla Mauri and her Assistants, Mother proposed to the Provincial Sr. Romana Fernandes and her Council, to shift the Provincial House to Kismatpur and to give the premises to begin the B.Sc. College of Nursing, as it was desperately searching for a suitable place within a 4KM radius from Vijay Marie Hospital. The Provincial House shifted to Kismatpur on 13 th January 2004.

The B.Sc. College of Nursing and the hostel for 150 students were completed by December 2005. This marked the historical beginning of the new mission of Capitanio Convent. The community continues to accommodate few senior sisters, student sisters of both the B.Sc. College of Nursing and the student sisters of St. Francis Degree College and the sisters working in the College of Nursing. The candidates continued to live in Gerosa Cottage till March 2009 when they were shifted to Lourdu Matha Hospital, Thallada, in May 2009.

The students of the College of Nursing are given all round formation and above all a good Christian formation with all the facilities needed to form themselves as quality nurses with a heart of compassion and commitment towards the sick and the poor. We are also actively involved in the Parish for the teaching of Catechism and other activities. The sisters also instruct the adults for the rectification of marriages and for adult baptism.

Holy Mary Convent was established in February 1948 on the insistant request from Rev. Fr.Roch, the then Parish Priest of Saifabad and with the kind permission of His Lordship the Late Rt.Rev.D.Vismara. Rev. Mother Provincial Sr.Vincenza Caminada with the co-operation of the Superior of St. Francis Convent, Secunderabad - Sr.Antonietta Lucini selected the first three sisters. Permission was sought from Rev. Mother General-Mother Angiolina Realli to open a school and a dispensary to cater to the needs of the poor people of Saifabad a forlorn village on the outskirts of Hyderabad city.

Despite hard times at the beginning, the first community of three sisters - Sr.Josephine Pedoia, Sr.Lorenzina Colaco and Sr.Colleta Antony trusted in God’s providence and went ahead. Sr.Josephine Pedoia was put in charge of the dispensary. Sr.Lorenzina was appointed as the Headmistess of the newly opened school which at the initial stage was in a small tin shed in the parish church premises, to cater to the moral, physical and intellectual growth of the children. The strength of the school was forty eight to begin with but by the end of the year the number rose to 160 comprising various castes and creeds.

The school made rapid progress in the field of discipline and academic performance. The annual inspection reports were in praise of the smooth management of the school. Hence the government was pleased to recognize the school and sanction a nominal aid of Rs.30/- to enable them to carry on the work. The school made great progress under the dynamic and creative leadership of Sr.Celine.

The basic and primary apostolate of the community today is centered around nearly 2300 students of the Holy Mary High School and the staff. Most of these are Muslims with only about 200 catholic students. The focus of the community is to manifest the merciful love of Jesus the Redeemer to all, and the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus especially to the Muslim students. The community aims at achieving this through our life witness.

Since the number of the catholic students is limited, the community is seriously involved in locating and admitting eligible catholic children in our school and in helping them to deepen their faith through special attention, care and guidance in their studies and holistic growth. Efforts are made to inculcate faith in the staff and students by providing them opportunities to participate in seminars, retreats, prayer meetings liturgical and Para liturgical services and also through the teaching of catechism. The community is well integrated within the parish. The Sisters are involved in the daily participation in and animation of the Eucharistic Celebration in the parish church, such as: guiding the youth, animation of the liturgy, children’s choir, teaching catechism to children as well as faith formation of adults, preparing them for the reception of the sacraments and rectification of marriages. The community is readily available for any service requested by the parish clergy.

They are zealous in proclaiming Jesus the Redeemer mainly through their presence and also through the programmes in the school. The Sisters continue to keep to the original motto for founding the community, that is serving the most needy without minding religion or caste, through the works of mercy.

The foundation stone of the new Novitiate was laid at Kismatpur on 9th September 1997 in view of the bifurcation of the Province. “Shanti Sadan” in Dharwad was the Novitiate of the Secunderabad Province formally. The first batch of 11 novices were housed at Prashantha Nilayam, Bijinapally in one wing of the Home for the Aged, since the construction of the new Novitiate was going on.

On 24 th June 1999 considering the request made by the Provincial Superior- Sr. Esther Joseph, with the previous consent of the Archbishop S. Arulappa, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, the Superior General Mother Piercarla Mauri in accordance with Cs. 117g issued the decree that the Novitiate of the Secunderabad Province, residing at ‘Shanti Sadan’ Dharwad be transferred to Kismatpur with the formation of the Novices as its main purpose. Additional services entrusted to the community would include pastoral activity and health care, in the same locality.

On 14 th July 1999 the Novitiate house began to function with 22 novices and 4 sisters. The community was officially erected on 26 th July 1999 by the Provincial Superior Sr. Esther Joseph and was blessed by the Archbishop of Hyderabad - Bishop S. Arulappa. It was named St. Bartolomea Nilayam

The left wing of the building housed the new community St. Vincenza Nilayam that was erected in 2001. On 13th January 2004, the new Provincialate was officially shifted to St.Vincenza Nilayam and the Novitiate Community moved to the right wing on the second floor with modifications to the building, so that it could function independently. Sr. Mary S. Kuriakose was the Novice Mistress.

On 15th November 2008, Sr. Mary S. Kuriakose was nominated as the Provincial Superior and Sr. Anna Mary Thumma took over as the Novice Mistress and the Animator of the C ommunity.

St. Francis College came into existence in the year 1959 in the campus of St. Francis High School, Secunderabad with a strength of 22 in PUC Arts. In 1964 the first batch of B.A and B.SC graduates passed out. In order to provide students with more job-oriented courses, the B.Com was started in 1972. For 17 years, the high school with a roll of 2000 and the intermediate and degree with a strength of 1,200 were all accommodated on the same 3 acre site. Tensions were inevitable in the various apostolates in the campus of St. Francis, Secunderabad.

The public and the university had already acclaimed the college and many demands were pouring in before the management to provide necessary educational amenities, quality teaching and an all round formation of students keeping in mind excellent academic performance. Therefore an 8 acre plot was acquired in Begumpet to shift the Degree college so that it could expand as required.

On 16 Feb 1977, late Mother Angela Maria Campanile, the Superior General laid the foundation stone for the sister’s house. The college building, which was under construction for 2 years, was ready for inauguration on 25 June 1977. A band of 12 sisters with Sr. Nazarine as the superior arrived at Begumpet to mark the beginning of the new community. This community was special in the sense that 12 of them who were already part of St. Francis College Secunderabad were then transferred to this new site which would be named after the same college extension: St. Francis Degree College, Begumpet.

The history of our Institution is the history of our people who made things happen. St. Francis is the dream child of late Mother Antonietta Lucini, a God fearing holy religious filled with ardent love for God and neighbor. Late Mother Battistina Tavernini and Sr. Gertrude Rodrigues were a dynamic and inspiring pair who collaborated wholeheartedly to realize this dream project. Sr. Gertrude was the first secretary of the college and Sr. Battistina the first Superior who later succeeded Mother Antonietta Lucini as our Provincial. Sr. Alessia D’Sa succeeded Sister Battistina as Provincial while Sr. Virginia Rebeiro served the college as secretary. Except for Sr. Alessia D’sa, all the above mentioned sisters have gone to the Lord. Their hard labour of love is what we reap today in joy. May their souls rest in peace.

In the early days one of the major problems was the search for a Principal. The University insisted that only a person with 5 years of college teaching experience could be a Principal. On 14th Oct 1963 Sr. Maria Franco, sent for this task from Italy was appointed as the Principal of the college. If St. Francis College is today a temple of Higher learning, so much sought after, the credit goes to late Sr. Maria Franco – the pioneer, who with her dedication and service was a source of inspiration to the staff from 1962 – 1976. Each Principal who came after her shared the same dedication and added something new to the college.

Sr. Doris D’silva who is the Correspondent of the college, since 1984 continues with this major responsibility and now as a superior holds the community together with her leadership from 2005 till date. Meanwhile Sr. Alphonsa Vattoly whose shoulders are still weak and steadily growing with the strength to the Lord, is entrusted with the college administration from June 2007.

The college celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the year 2008 – 2009. It was a year of extraordinary graces and blessings from above. The college has augmented the existing infrastructure to keep pace with the academic growth. As the college has been given PG Autonomy since August 2010, we are now contemplating to launch skill based relevant PG and Professional courses in a phased manner. This requirement brings in the need for a building, for which the foundation stone was laid by our Mother General Piercarla Mauri on 1st February, 2010.

The community is working and collaborating in this beautiful work God has entrusted us with, so that His kingdom may be established through the effective leadership of the young students whom we are fashioning into wonderful people of tomorrow. We are also involved in the Parish Church and in the lives of people around us. All thanks to our pioneers who dreamt big and lived their dreams with missionary zeal.

Vijay Marie Hospital had a very humble beginning in the year 1948. This hospital was started by the Sisters of Charity heeding the call of Fr. Xavier Roch. The hospital was started in the middle of the slums of Chintal Basthi.The hospital was a solitary hut from where the sisters attended to the health needs of the slum dwellers.

Initially Dr.Rebello, Mother Flaminia, Dr.Bilgrami and Dr.Sr.Consilia Fernandes initiated their service for the slum dwellers. It will not be out of place to mention that the above mentioned persons had selflessly offered their services for the poor and the down trodden. The single room tenement clinic grew into a 180 bedded hospital. Their endeavor and hard labour resulted in our hospital providing more than twelve Medical and Surgical specialties to the most backward and under privileged members of society.

The hospital is dedicated for the health care and medical needs of women and children. It is a referral centre for Maternity (OB & Gynaec) and Neonatal (New born) intensive care. Other departments i.e. General Surgery, Medicine, Pediatric Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Urology, Orthopedic, Medical and Surgical Oncology and E N T cater to the needs of the patients. Diagnostic facilities like Medical Laboratory, X-ray, Ultra Sonography and In- house Pharmacy have been opened. The hospital provides treatment to the HIV affected patients and also provides Counseling to the patients to boost their morale and to enliven their drooping spirits.

The fabric of a strong foundation for excellent nursing education was established by Rev Sr.Delphine Rasquinha, the Founder Principal of the School of Nursing in the year 1973. It aims at training students with high professional standards to become efficient care providers around the globe, with a spirit of compassion, commitment and love.

The long cherished dream of a ‘Nursing College with excellence’ became a reality in the year 2003, under the able leadership of Sr. Anne Ponnattil, its Founder Principal. Its venue had to be shifted to Capitanio Convent B,egumpet. The beautifully constructed College building was inaugurated on 28th December 2005.

True to the Founding Charism, the community takes an active part in the pastoral activities like teaching catechism, preparing for first holy communion, family visits, taking care of the altar linen etc.

Jeevan Jyothi Institute is a Theological Institute, the ownership and administration belongs to the Regional CRI of Andhra Pradesh. The origin can be traced back to July 1971 to the decision of Rev. J.N.M Wijngards MHM, who inspired, encouraged and collaborated with the major superiors of AP and the local Ordinary. It was officially inaugurated on July 14 th 1973 by His Grace Arch bishop S. Arulappa, the patron and guardian of the Institute.

The first Indian Provincial Superior of the Society of JMJ - Sr. Josepha Rachamalla was elected as the President of Jeevan Jyothi Society in the year 1974. After strenuous effort she purchased the land and the building from film actor Dr. Akkineni Nageshwar Rao. She registered the J.J.I with registration of Society’s Act in 1975. In 1975 - 76, the first batch of students obtained their Diploma.

The institute was opened for the religious sisters working in Andhra region and other parts of India. Empowerment of Women religious in the Church through Theological upgradation so that there emerges a new leadership through a formative spirituality, was the aim of this training Institute. The tiny mustard seed has grown and bore abundant fruit for the past 35 years. It has trained one thousand and five hundred sisters, (1500) who occupy key positions of leadership in various congregations and the Church in India.

Each Congregation takes up the service at the Institute in turn for a period of ten years. We, the Sisters of Charity of Sts. Bartolomea and Vincenza, arrived on 5th June 2009 to work in Jeevan Jyothi Institute. Sr. Innamma Gopu, the then Provincial Superior of the J.M.J Society and the outgoing team of sisters lovingly welcomed the sisters and assured them of their full support. The official inaugural with the Holy Eucharist was celebrated on 13th June at 5.30p.m. followed by a symbolic ceremony of handing over the baton. It was a solemn, symbolic and simple gesture. The JMJ’s tended the babe with utmost love and care for the past ten years and now have handed it over to us.

Today Jeevan Jyothi Institute, a project of the AP CRI women's wing comprises the Theology Training Institute - Retreat Centre and the APCRI Secretariate. It renders service to all the three units situated in the same premises.