By the end of 1881, the New Institute consisted of two professed nuns 3 Novices, 10 Postulants and 10 Aspirants and it felt that it had enough vitality forth fresh branches. The news of the foundation of the Insititute, of the good it was doing to the girls and of the immense good it did in the Famine Year of 1877 attracted the notice of the Telugu Catholic centres in the districts of Guntur, Cuddapah, Kurnool and Chingleput. Phirangipuram being the native place of the Foundress Gnanamma and the more populous centres among the Catholic Telugu community, it was considered that the first branch of the Congregation should be started there.
Mother Joseph and Fr. Balanadar on the one hand and Fr. Dickmans, at Phirangipuram, on the other, were independently inspired at the same time with the same idea, for when Mother Joseph wrote through Fr. Balanadar to Fr. Dickmans about her intention of founding a branch Convent at Phirangipuram, Fr. Dickmans gladly agreed, and was even willing to put the parochial house at the disposal of the proposed foundation.
Fr. Dickmans set to work immediately and had everything ready in a few months for the occupation of the nuns. He along with Fr. Hibers, left for Madras, where he met Dr. Colgan and discussed with His Exellency about the new convent. They then went on to Kilachery and in consultation with Fr. Kennedy, the Parish Priest of Kilachery and Mother Joseph then made all the necessary arrangements for the departure of the nuns to Phirangipuram.
Mother Joseph appointed Sister Ignatius as Superior of the convent at Kilachery and Sister Elizabeth as her assistant. On 20-9-1882 she left Kilachery for Madras, taking with her Sister Bernard, a novice, and Gundi Innasamma (Maddicare), Noti Shantamma (Polur), Ratna Mariamma (Pondicherry – Muthialpet), Peddanini Dyernamma (Nemely) and Lingam Prakasamma (one of the orphans of the year 1877) – all postulants.
As the nuns had now to leave for a distant foundation. Fathers Balanadar and Rajanna had a group photograph taken and saw them take the boat from Madras along with Fathers Dickmans and Hibers. Immediately on their arrival at Chabrol Fr. Dickmans sent intimation to his assistant, Fr. Anthony Groote, to have everything ready for their arrival at Phirangipuram. About 2 p.m. on the 13th October 1882, the party arrived at Phirangipuram to find the whole parish gathered to give the nuns a grand reception. They were welcomed amidst the ringing of the church bells, deafening sounds of tom-toms and the joyous strains of Nadhaswaram, country flutes, and were conducted to the Church where the Te Deum was sung and the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was given. Then the nuns were solemnly led to the convent building which had been fitted out by Fr. Dickmans with much care, interest, foresight and devotion.
