Most of the religious orders were suppressed and works of charity were given over to secular authorities. In fact, the early 19^th century was one of the darkest periods that Belgium ever knew. It was marked by great social plagues and a vast gap separated the rich from the ordinary people. The children of the well to do families were not even aware of the utter poverty of the people. Then came the French revolution with all  its tragic results and victims of the after effects – the poor, the sick, the wounded, the destitute, the mentally and physically handicapped and abandoned children, for whom our founder Fr. Triest had a special concern and he wanted to alleviate their suffering. He invited a few simple village girls to help him in his work and moulded the hands and hearts of these women – to every work of mercy, and taught them self abnegation in the service of charity. Because of his charitable works soon he became known as the “St. Vincent De Paul of Belgium. During his lifetime the congregation spread quickly throughout Belgium, and by the end of the century the sisters had many foundations, in several countries of the world. Our first house in the sub-continent was in Lahore, opened on 28.10.1897 now in Pakistan. The sisters were called there by the bishop to help out with famine relief programmes. Expansion continued in various states of India and the province of India was divided into two on 08.12.1993. Thus Delhi province and Ranchi Province came into existence and Sr. Bernadine Tirkey became the first Provincial Superior of Ranchi.