FCC is the first Syrian Christian Women’s Congregation of Kottayam Vicarate.The great desire of our pioneer mothers together with his own love for the poor led the first Vicar Apostolica of Kottayam, Rt. Rev.Dr. Bishop Charles Lavigne S.J. to found the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.A new branch of the Franciscan Order which had already spread world wide thus came into existence as F.C.C. at Changanassery in the Kottayam Vicarate in the year 1888.
On 4 October 1890, he together with Rev. Fr. Recardo laid the foundation stone for a new convent named St. Germane’s Convent. On 15 June 1891, the feast day of St. Germane, the new convent was blessed and inaugurated.
In the beginning, for three years Bishop Lavigne carried on his services at his headquarters at Mannanam and Edaikkattu Church. But in 1890 with the permission of the Holy See, his seat was shifted to Changanacherry. The Church at Changanacherry was much bigger and it had a large number of Catholics under it. Without delay he started a school for boys. There were 40 boys in the beginning. It was named St. Berchman’s School and it was housed in the St. Germane's convent built for the FCC sisters.
After the profession of the sisters, His Lordship made a plan to go to Rome to meet the Pope. He informed the sisters that he would try to get the Pope’s blessings and recognition for their Rules and Directory of life. He asked them to recite the Memorare until he returned from Rome. Bishop Lavigne left for Rome on 15 September 1895. In his absence Rev. Fr. Recardo took charge of the affairs of the sisters. By now it was decided from Rome to appoint local Bishops. So it was clear that Bishop Lavigne wouldn’t be coming back to India. he was appointed Bishop of Trincomali. He was called for eternal rest on July 11th1913
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