The religious community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary was founded by St. Virginia Centurione in Genoa on April 13, 1631. The headquarters of this religious community is in Genoa, Italy. The community desired to uphold lost Christian values, to give a new dimension to faith that had become stagnant in human minds, and to give rebirth to the religious community when a pitiable state of divine calling arose due to the sluggishness in Western cultural spirituality.

They also wished to expand their missionary work to the ancient Indian culture, which is the cradle of spirituality. For the fulfilment of this great desire, the ecclesiastical authorities contacted Monsignor Joseph Vilangadan. As a result, preliminary training was given under his leadership to young women from the undivided Archdiocese of Thrissur who desired a consecrated life. From 1967, they were given admission into the Mount Calvary religious community in Genoa.

On the path of growth, the ecclesiastical authorities realized the need to start a religious institution in Thrissur itself. Consequently, in 1971, the then Mother General, Mother Augusta Bureau’s secretary, Sister Danielle, approached the venerable Mar Joseph Kundukulam and obtained permission. They then purchased land and a building for the convent in the Cheroor Vijayapuram parish.

Later, during the time when Mother Maria Sangannella was the Mother General, the first branch of the Mount Calvary religious community in India was started on December 8, 1975, under the name St. Joseph’s Convent. In its initial phase, this convent began its work as a center for promoting vocations. The initial stages of religious training, such as Aspirancy, Postulancy, and Novitiate, were conducted in this very convent.

As time passed, considering the rise of affiliated institutions, the increase in members, and the limitation of space, and for the smooth conduct of religious training, a novitiate house was started in the Mulayam parish within the Thrissur Archdiocese in 1987, a postulancy house in the Peramangalam parish in 1990, and an aspirancy house in the Kundukad parish in 1997.