The apostolic zeal of these Missionaries soon pushed them on to Khunti in 1904, encouraged by Rev, Fr, Van Daele S.J. Mother Anthony accompanied by Miss Elisa and three Daughters of St. Anne were the pioneers at Khunti, the land of the Munda Tribes. One of the St. Anne Sisters knew Mundari. A Munda teacher was engaged to help them. A few Munda girls were taken along to form the nucleus of the future Khunti School. A young married couple and a widow would help them with the manual work. They had taken along with them food to last for the rainy season. The Push-Push and the bullock carts arrived at Khunti the following day at 6 o'clock. Rev. Father Francken S.J. welcomed them.

Opening of School

The School was opened on June 20, 1904. Previously the Fathers had been sending girls to Ranchi, but all of them were running away. Once 80 were sent and the very next day. 74 of them, headed by a future Daughter of St. Anne, ran away. This was probably on account of the harvest season.

In September, the Governor of Bengal Sir Andrew Fraser with Lady Fraser visited the school and granted the school a subsidy of Rupees 20/- per month.

The date of the reopening of the school for the new school year had been fixed for December 1, 1904 but as the school building was not ready, messengers were sent in all directions informing the postponement. As Torpa was overlooked, to the great dismay of the Sisters, they saw 232 children in the compound on November 30, by 5.00 P.M. Where to accommodate them? So they were all put up in the Convent and the Father arranged for food in the parish. It was indeed a mighty task to have some order during meals and rest. As was the custom, many children ran away. By Christmas, the school building had its roof and the Sisters had the convent to themselves.

In 1949 Khunti started the New School Year with class VIII. There were 16 pupils. A school in Dorma also started with the good number of children.

Construction of classrooms was going on in Maranghada in view of opening a School. Sisters at Khunti would run the schools at Dorma and Maranghada also.

Blessing of Grotto

On March 5, 1905, as Msgr. Meulemans was at Khunti for the Confirmation of some new Christians, he graciously accepted to preside at the blessing of the Grotto. The verandah of the Convent was decorated and transformed into a Cathedral for the first Pontifical Mass in Chota Nagpur. He was assisted by 22 Jesuit Priests and the Ranchi Choir had come for the occasion; 2000 persons received Confirmation and at 4.00 P.M. there was a solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the Grotto. People had come from all over the District. Boys had come from St. John's Ranchi, Karra, Torpa and Noatoli with musical instruments.

Transfer of Novitiate from Ranchi to Khunti

According to the desire of Reverend Mother Germaine, General Superior, and at the request of Reverend Mother Henrietta, Vicar of the Ursuline Religious in the Indian Missions, His Grace, the Most Reverend Nicholas Kujur, Archbishop of Ranchi, petitioned His Holiness, Pope Pius XII for permission to transfer the Novitiate from Ranchi to Khunti. This permission was graciously granted by His Holiness in a document bearing the date, June 3, 1954.

The beginnings are always humble. On September 10, a room in the community building of Ursuline Convent, Khunti, was arranged and thus the General Novitiate for the Ursulines was inaugurated. Mother Francoise Van Craen (Mother Francisca) was appointed Mistress of the very first three Novices - Sister Leontina Tigga, Sister Alma Ekka and Sister Carmella Ekka.