The Novitiate at Kilachery was started on 12th December 1875. Pagadala Anthoniamma was the first to enter the Novitiate and took the name of Joseph. Though young, she was tactful, prudent, foreseeing and resourceful. Sister Angela, finding her health deteriorating, appointed Mother Joseph in her place as headmistress of the Convent School and entrusted to her all the temporal management of the Convent. Mother Joseph carried out these duties to the entire satisfaction of Sister Angela and Fr. Ignatius, the Director of the Congregation.
Soon after Mother Joseph assumed charge of the Government of the Institute, on the advice of Fr. Ignatius, the Parish Priest of Kilachery and Director of the Convent, she made an extensive tour of the Districts of Chingleput, Cuddapah and Kurnool, visiting all the Christian centres therein for the purpose of giving greater publicity to the New Institute and school and for enlisting vocations to the Congregation. As a result of her labours the strength of the school was soon doubled and the aspirants to the Institute began rapidly to increase. Among the latter must be mentioned Koppala Chinnamma (Kallimbedu) Enumala Showramma (Kallimbedu), Kandacuri Melamma (Pepalle), Parvathi Innasamma (Polur) Yasaggari Agensamma (Ontendupalle) niece of Mgr. Balanadar, Boreddi Mariamma (Kotala) Linguttla Mariamma (Kilachery) niece of Fr. Savarinadar, Kitheramma (Madras) Younger Sister of Mother Joseph, Desam Sleevamma (Kothur) niere of Fr. Ignatius, and Sagily showramma (Reddipalayam).
Mother Joseph next took up the preparation of the Postulants for the Novitiate. On the 26th July 1877, the feast of St. Anne, Mother Joseph after a retreat of 8 days made her first temporal vows, for 3 years in the Parish Church and in the presence of Fr. Ignatius, while Kopalla Chinnamma, Kandacuri Melamma and Parvathi Innasamma were received as Novices, taking the names of Claramma, Catharenamma and Innasamma respectively. Claramma and Catharenamma later were not found fit. Only Sister Ignatius persevered to the end. She was an exemplary religious and was of great help to Mother Joseph in all her manifold works.
In the beginning, the Institute followed the Rules and Regulations of St. Anne’s Convent Bellary. But Mother Joseph found by experience that these rules and regulations were not well suited to the needs of her institute. On the suggestions and with the advice of Fr. Ignatius, she adopted the Rules and Regulations of the Institute of Mary Immaculate, Pondicherry, framed by Fr. Duppe, with certain modifications and additions which the requirements of the new Institute demanded. These rules were revised by Mgr. Balanadar and Fr. Wallace and approved by Dr. Stephen Fennelly and Dr. Joseph Colgan. They were printed for the first time in English and Telugu on the 8th September 1883.
