At the end of the year 2001, a Dominican nun from a convent of contemplatives in Northern Spain (Cangas de Narcea) had to come to India unexpectedly. after this trip, the idea arose very strongly in her community of establishing for the first time in India the contemplative nuns' branch of the Dominican Order.

     There were several conversations and agreements with the Master of the Order, Fr. Carlos Aspiroz Costa, with Fr. Manuel Merten, Promoter of the Nuns of the Order, and with Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, Assistant to the Master of the Asia/Pacific Region. after the positive vote of the Council and Chapter of the nuns' community in Spain, the same nun, Sr. Maria Luz, came again in 2002, accompanied by a nun who is Indian - one of the many who have entered Dominican convents in Spain in recent years.

     This sisters lived for a year in a rented house in Aluva. IN the following year, 2003, they went to the diocese of Quilon where they stayed in rented quarters for more than two years. at the end of 2003 they began to build a convent. although this is not yet the monastery they hope to construct, they occupied it in March of 2005 and began to live their contemplative life with tranquility, in a pleasant and functional building.

     Because of India's immigration laws, nuns coming from Spain cannot remain in India more than sex consecutive months, though they can return as often as they wish. this fact did not frighten them and they have come back again and again, to continue the marvelous mission God seems to have entrusted to them. from the beginning they were joined by young women whom God allowed them to meet in various ways. not all of these persevered.

The fruits of this first period of the foundation have been the following:

     In 2004, three young women who were living with us in Aluva received the Dominican Habit. the Master of the Order decided that after one year as novices, they should go to Spain for a canonical novitiate year, since that would not be possible here in a community not yet formally established.

In 2005, the first three novices went to Spain, accompanied by Sr. Rany, a sister from an active community, the Union of St Catherine of School Missionaries. She has been spending a year experiencing contemplative life more closely, to determine whether that is the way of life to which she is called.

     Also in 2005, in March, our convent was blessed, with the participation of various members of the Dominican Order here in India: the Fr Provincial, Fr. Dominic, the Vicar of the Master for our convent, Fr Paul, the friars' Postulant Master fr Biju, and other Dominican friars, as well as Dominican Sisters, and brothers and sisters from other congregations. we give profound thanks to God, touched as we are by the wonders He continues to work in this foundation. Is it not amazing that in only three years we had a house where we could live our contemplative life without rental problems?

     Also in 2005, in August, three postulants received their Dominican Habit.

In 2006, in August, three more novices went to Spain, like their seniors, to begin their canonical year. There are, then, six novices and one professed transfer sister, all from India, who are now continuing their formation in Spain and who will return to India.

     On October, 10 the three novices who went to Spain in 2005, made their first Profession of Vows. It was an important moment for the foundation. the Father Master of the Order, enthusiastic about the beginnings of Dominican contemplative life in India, sent his representative to the ceremony: fr Manuel Merten, the official Promoter of the Nuns throughout the world.

     Once these newly-professed sisters have finishes the three years of temporary vows required by our Constitutions, they will be the first to make Solemn Profession and will then turn to India to continue Dominican contemplative life in their own country.

     The founding community will accompany them until they are able to cope with all the aspects of the life. Once the canonically required number of nuns is reached - i.e., nine professed sisters - the Father Master can, if he wishes, establish the foundation as an autonomous monastery like all others in the Order.

     Here in Keralapuram there are presently two professed nuns: Sr. Maria Luz from Spain and Sr Mary of the Savior from the United States. They are accompanied by a nun in temporary vows who is from India, and who had entered the founding community in Spain before the Indian foundation was made. (The Spanish nuns have always been accompanied in this way by a sister who is from India.) There are also two postulants, and four resident candidates who are students at the plus-one and plus-two levels.

     In October, 2006, on World Mission Sunday, after consultation with the Promoter of the Dominican Laity in India (Fr Joseph K. C), the establishment at the nuns' convent of a Fraternity of Lay Dominicans. Some twenty-five persons will be received as members on that day by the Dominican Fr. Dominic Mendonca.