Mission

Being a man of great vision, Founder Fr. Wilhelm Meyer, wished to expand the activities of the Sisters to a foreign country to share the struggles of the deprived. When he heard about the request of the Bishop of Quilon, he wrote to him in 1911, but his dream could not be realized while he was alive. This godly desire however could be realized only 18 years later after the foundation of the Society, when Bishop Roussillon, of the Diocese of Visakhapatnam, requested Mother Emilie Dormann to send Sisters to open a mission station. Mother Dormann kept alive the spirit of the Founder and the hour came in 1927. The mission mandate was given to the four Sisters on December 4, 1927 and after a journey of 22 days by sea they landed in Madras (now known as Chennai) on December 28, 1927.


The Pioneers, burning with passionate love for God and for humanity plunged into missionary activities. After a short term of language classes, they took up nursing care in Government hospital, Masulipatnam and at Rajahmundry. The colossal misery of the land did not discourage them; rather the religious faith of the people impressed them. Adjustments had to be made with culture, food habits, environment etc. Religious pluralism, multi-culturalism, blind beliefs and traditional practices surprised them. Yet they loved India for its spiritual richness and labeled it as “Wonder land”. After a year, two Sisters moved out to Visakhapatnam. Three years after their arrival, the Sisters acquired their first house in Bheemunipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. They worked under primitive conditions giving themselves entirely to their work; travelled in bullock carts for miles during the sunny as well as the rainy days, attending to the patients under the tree. Collecting drugs and utensils to conduct the delivery cases, vessels, fire wood and food stuffs for cooking, and straw for the bull; cooking the food on the way, eating the meal sitting on the ground, sleeping on the cart etc. were routine to them. Being so committed and determined to serve the poor and needy, the pioneers gladly faced all struggles that came on their way. The first dispensary was opened in the remote village of Madugula in 1931. In 1939, the first Indian candidate Sr. Beatrice joined the Society. Soon to follow their footsteps were many more young, energetic and zealous missionaries who sacrificed everything at the altar of love, to give life for many. 1940, witnessed a great event in Vijayawada when a hospital was opened by the efforts of Mother Elizabeth.

The flame of love was kept alive in the hearts and in the mission. Slowly but steadily, the mission of the Society of St. Ann took deep roots In Indian soil, spreading out its branches, providing succour and comfort to many. The growth of the Society in number of personnel and in the diversity of services stands as eloquent testimony to the devotion and commitment of the pioneers. The regional office from Bheemunipatnam was shifted to Vijayawada in 1969. The regions (Switzerland and India) were given the status of provinces in the year 1991.  In 1993 the Indian province was divided into three regions - North, Central and South with Administrative offices in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Bangalore - that were raised to the status of provinces in 1998. In 1999, the Congregation was divided into two Autonomous Societies forming a Federation with separate Generalates, in Switzerland and in India. Thus the Society of the Sisters of St. Ann of Luzern, in India was formed with the status of Pontifical right. Having celebrated the centenary in 2009, the Society of St. Ann has stepped into its Second century. During the past several years, the Society has spread its shoots to 4 countries: India, Tanzania, Kenya and Italy. 856 Sisters render the missionary service dispersed from 130 Communities in 57 dioceses in India with 262 ministries under the Generalate, India (India: 112; Tanzania: 11; Kenya: 2 and Italy: 5). In India, the Congregation has spread its wings in 14 States (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Telangana and Tamil Nadu).