It was published on Christmas 1978 at Holy Rosary Convent, Jeppu, Mangalore. The inspiration came from Dr Jessie Tellis Nayak, the then Programme Director, Programme for Women’s Development, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi who suggested that we record our work and efforts in the field of social and economic development so as to enthuse our Sisters and lay people to direct their energies in their own way towards the total liberation of humankind. It takes us back to the daring spirit of our Sisters whose service was unassuming and who befriended the poor and the neglected lot of society in the villages where they served. The words of Mother Ernestine the then Superior General in her Introduction to this Booklet are worth quoting here: “While Mother Teresa the superstar, sheds the bright light of her humanitarian works of mercy and charity in the slums of India and abroad, we count our service as that of a lamp keeping the night watch in the poor villages and hamlets the ‘work fields’ of our Sisters”.
