The Canossian pioneers reached Alleppey on 4^th November 1892. St. Joseph’s Convent at Alleppey has been playing a very important role in the life of the town since its inception had very humble beginnings in the last decade of nineteenth century. The town of Alleppey is proudly called the Venice of the East because of its canals and backwaters. An orphanage and a free elementary school were the first to be established in the place. Very soon the house was thronged by women who wanted to be taught some handicraft to earn their livelihood or those who wanted to be prepared for the sacraments. So centre was started to teach tailoring and embroidery to the girls.

By 1921, St. Joseph’s High School was established. Responding to the continuous requests from the parents who wanted their daughters to study further after the S.S.L.C but did not have an institution, which they could trusts, the sisters started St. Joseph’s College for women in 1954 with just 120 students on the roll. In 1983 St. Joseph’s Lower Primary School together with nursery was shifted to another campus on the southern side of Mount Carmel Cathedral under the name of Canossa Convent. Today under the umbrella of St. Joseph’s Convent function St. Joseph’s College for Women,  St.joseph’s HSS and St.Joseph’s HS, Tailoring and Book Binding Centre, Care Centre for TB children, Housing Scheme for the roofless and the Office of the Corporate Management of Schools. The sisters actively do participate in the pastoral works of the Diocese of Alleppey.