Towards the end of the 19th century, Europe experienced a fast development of industries and economic improvement. Unbalanced ambitions, mutual distrust, enmity and conflicts among the European nations had made the atmosphere explosive, resulting ultimately in a world-wide conflagration. The imperialistic competition, the aggressive nationalism and the arms race that had developed among European powers resulted in the outbreak of war. The war which lasted for four years had disastrous consequences. Hundred of thousands were killed. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died, the economic loss was enormous. Trade and industry came to a standstill. The picture of post-war Germany as a vanquished nation was pathetic. ...

Germany was humiliated by the victorious nations and faced unjust treatment and exploitation at their hands. People became desperate. The common people in Germany felt crushed under the burden of taxation, unemployment and greedy landlords. Then Marx preached: "Don't believe in your priests. Religion is opium for the masses. Instead, revolt. Join the religion of materialistic comforts." His teachings added fuel to the fire in the wavering faith of the Christians. They were easily carried away from Christian faith. Many of them joined in anti-church movements and others sought consolation in drinking and gambling.

It is to this world of struggling, revolting and indifferent masses that the young Parish Priest Fr. John Haw, came forward to spend his early years of ministry. He was not gifted with eloquence. With a heart full of zeal and the foolishness of a radical discipleship, he went after the lost sheep: the drunkards, the homeless, the released prisoners and all those rejected by the traditional middle class Christian.

God allows all His dear ones to be tested and purified in the fire of suffering. The St. John's League was no exception. On 9th September 1941, the St. John's League and its members was dissolved and banned by the decree of the secret police in Berlin. Fr. Haw was homeless. The members of St. John's League, including fathers and sisters got scattered. Many of them got killed in the war. They underwent a crucial test in the decade of the Nazi persecution. They faced the ruins of the world war II, the holocaust in the concentration camps, the tragedy of divided Germany with millions of people driven away from their homelands in east Germany by the Russian occupants.

St. John's Sisters has extended its horizons outside Germany to Portugal in the year 1956, to Africa in the year 1970 and to India in the year1971. We read the signs of time and respond to them. We, its members find our strength in the Eucharistic celebration, in the assistance of Mary the Queen, and draw inspiration from the prophetic mission of St. John the Baptist. We are instruments of the compassionate Jesus. We lead a committed life with openness for the work of the Spirit, availability at every stage of life, in day-to-day life and the events and demands of time. The members experience the unfailing presence of God every where protecting, challenging, leading and strengthening our lives. We sing of the love and mercies of the Lord.