Pioneer of PCK Kodaikanal

If i could be of service in saving souls in any part of the world i would willingly do in all my power (Nano Nagle)

Miss Teresa later called Sr. Xavier Murphy sailed to India in 1887, 18^th March 1887. Frances her sister was born. She joined with Sr. Xavier Murphy in 1905. 1912 Training College was opened. Sr. Augustin Murphy was in charge of this college.

In 1916 Sr. Augustine accompanied Mother Xavier to Kodaikanal to study conditions with a view to opening a European High School. with the help of Dr. JohnBantha SJ Bishop of Thriyhirapally Fr. J.D.W. Sewell, Fr. Francis Baham Property was bought. It is a common knowledge how the sisters wandered about from Hillside to kenmure; to Mt. Pleasant; from Mt Pleasant back to Hillside and finally to Mt. Joseph which hence forth was to be Mother Augustine’s home.

A School opened with 12 children from the Church Park Convent. From this small beginning. Mother Augustine watched its growth, thinking out schemes and planning until she attained the compact group of buildings now standing to her memory “Far from the madding crowd”

“The annals says At Kodaikanal, a hill station of Madras, Mother Xavier made her “sublime act of folly” when she acquired property not possessing the purchase price. On the 21^st of June 1916 the site for building purchased. . The difficulties were overcome and the establishment now comprises ST. Joseph’s boarding high school for European girls including some Indians of the parse caste. In 1917 1^st of May the convent work completed, Bishop of Trichy inaugurated the building. In 1919 St. Xavier’s Tamil Mediums Primary School was started for the children whose parents worked in European School. In 1943 it was upgraded to Middle school and 1983 High school, 2002 to Higher Secondary school which is catering to thousands of Poor Children.