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The Origin of st.Joseph of Cluny in Pondicherry, could be traced back to the very foundation of Cluny in India. The first three Sisters from Bourbon (Present Reunion ) arrived in Pondicherry in the month of January 1827, sent by Mother Rosalie Javouhey, then Provincial Superior of Reunion, at the request of Viscount Desbassyns de Richmont, the acting Administrator of the French establishment in India. Having heard about Anne Marie Javouhey, our Foundress and her initiative in adopting the Lancastrian pedagogy in Education in France and in several French colonies, Desbassyns de Richmont, Governor of Reunion invited the Sisters of St.Joseph of Cluny, to take up the education of girls on Pondicherry.
The Three Sisters, Sr. Xavier Tronchain, Sr. Seraphine Ducordeau and Sr. Dorothy Chevrier set sail from Reunion on 28th December with 110 piasters in their purse and landed in Pondicherry in January 1827. The Government opened a free school and a boarding school for European girls on 12th February 1827of which the sisters took charge of. They were taught Reading, Writing and Grammar, Arithmetic, History, Geography, Mythology, needle work, Stitching, Embroidery, and artificial Flower making, weaving and Lace making etc. Art and Music were also encouraged. This was our first technical school in India and the primary school still exists under the title of Pensionnat de Jeunes fillie.
Sr. Seraphine, the first Superior died at her young age of 21 and was replaced by Sr. Xavier. Initially there were a lot of prejudices and misunderstandings among the authorities on the sisters and their mission. In July 1829, Mother Rosalie made her first visit to Pondicherry and stayed for two and a half months putting things in order. She found a fervent, zealous Community, distinguished for its spirit of poverty. Eventually a healthy atmosphere was soon restored among the authorities.
A free school was opened in 1887 for the poor Indian children. Sr.Xavier with her gentleness and patience did not spare herself in visiting the families and encouraging the parents to send their daughters to school.
In June 1833, Mother Rosalie made another journey to solve another problem with regard to the recitation of Prayer of the Church in French. During this time Sr. Dorothy- the angel of peace, died after seven years of her dedicated service in India. When the grave of Sr. Seraphine was opened after six years to bury Sr. Dorothy, they found her body intact, revealing her sanctity.
In 1838, Mother Rosalie visited again Pondicherry and she was happy to see the spiritual fervor under the zealous Bishop Mgr. Bonnard. Her stay was so pleasant that she wished to stay in Pondicherry until the end of her life. She recalled her experiences in Pondicherry as the “Years of Tabor” when she left the country in 1838.
Sr. Xavier Tronchain continued her mission in Pondicherry, till 1838 and returned to France and in 1840, she died there after a short illness.
The Origin of Cluny in India is thus is a story of a trustful, courageous abandonment to the Will of God in the liberating mission of Jesus by the Spirit-filled Daughters of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey- the prophetess of that time.