At this initial stage the members of the Company lived in their own families. However they came together for weekly meetings, monthly recollections and retreats. As their director, Stein gave them conferences and guidelines to become contemplative - apostles in their own families and in the local Church as well. From the beginning the teaching of catechism, visiting the sick and assisting in the various pastoral works marked their apostolic zeal. Later they also began a primary school in Kannada for the poor children and opened a needlework centre for the young girls. The pioneers came from affluent families and already they possessed the needed qualities of leadership and communication skills.
