The General Chapter of 1946 and the General Curia that was elected encouraged the provinces to undertake new missionary endeavours because often the nuncios or Apostolic Delegates requested us to accept mission in new areas, while the power of communism advanced in many nations destroying numerous missionaries. This is what occurred for us passionists in the missions in china and Bulgaria, and the same almost took place with the dutch missionaries in Indonesia. On the contrary, catholic missionaries had easy entry into the phillipines, Japan, Korea and Taiwan ( Formosa). Within the context of this situation attention was directed toward india with the hope of finding some possibility of making entry. Toward the end of finding some possibility of making entry. Toward the end of 1951, the Superior General, Fr. Albert Deane, entrusted the cosultor, Fr. Malcolm La Velle, with the task of visiting the passionist communities in Australia, appraise the foundation already underway in Japan, and study the possibility of entering india. Upon his return from Australia he visited india and he spoke extensively with Bishop Kierkels, the archbishop of new delhi, and both of them were in favour of a passionist foundation in the city.
Bishop Kierkels was in favour of the decision; however he was of the opinion that we accept the offer to establish a foundation in Ceylon ( present day srilanka). This was an invitation that had been offered repeatedly since November 18, 1946 by Fr.M.Goonetilleke of the diocese of chilaw.via the same Bishop Kierkels. The foundation in Ceylon was seen as a point of entry into india. Bishop Kierkels also pointed out that in the south of india there was a greater possibility for vocations and keeping the entire passionist observance, whereas the possibilities of the same in the north were minimal. The content of this report was studied in the consulta of February 1, 1952, no decision was taken; however they had a better understanding of the dynamics of the proposal.

The proposals of Cardinal Valeran Gracias
On the march 28, 1952 Fr. Neil McBrearthy, C.P., secretary of Bishop Kierkels, wrote to the archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai), Bishop Kierkels, and he asked him if there was any possibility of establishing a Passionist community in archdiocese, Bishop Gracias promptly responded on March 31, 1952: “I am not only agreeable in principle to have them, but would welcome him.” He recalled that he had already admitted the following to his archdiocese: Francisians, Salesians, S.V.D, Capuchins, the Pilar Society and the Redemptorists, but he had also found a place for the Passionists. He suggested that perhaps it would be better if American Passionists go there since they spoke English, “but also of their familiarity with cultural and ecclesiastical conditions somewhat similar to ours in Bombay.”
On April 5, 1952 Fr. Neil Communicated to the General, Fr. Malcolm, the response of the archbishop of Bombay and also the positive response of bishop Andrei D’ souza a Poona.
On April10, 1952 the Bishop of Bangalore, During his farewell to Bishop Kierkels and to Fr.Neil who were definitely leaving india, said: “ I am glad to hear that the passionists will be coming to india. Will they come to the south? They will be most welcome in Bangalore. I hope you will also come back one day to India.”
During the travels of Fr.Neil and Bishop Kierkels to Switzerland, the airplane made a stop at romeo in Clampino on April 20, 1952 and there they had a meeting with Fr. Malcolm who left a brief note regarding the encounter; “Fr, Neil assured me that archdiocese of simla and in the district (hissar) of approximately 100 villages was in need of evangelization. He also was certain that the diocese of Bangalore was willing to receive the Passionists.

The road of Ceylon
In the meantime the government of india made it ever more difficult for foreigners to enter the country and consequently, to obtain visas. Because of this situation, attention was once again directed toward Ceylon. During the consulta of 21st march, 1953 they studied the situation of the Australian (SPIR) province that was finding it difficult to enter new Guinea where they had been focusing their attention following the request of the apostolic Delegate to Australia. Therefore, entry into Ceylon was seen as a way to also enter india. The General Curia was amenable to this request. “A favourable conclusion was reached and on april 19, 1954 the General Curia considered the request of the SPIR provincial to try to enter New Guinea perhaps because india and Ceylon did not welcome Australians or because of the insistence of the Apostolic Delegate to Australia and cardinal of Sydney that they go to New Guinea. The General Curia approved the request and therefor the foundation in india or Ceylon was once again postponed.
On the 15th September 1956 the General, Fr. Malcolm, together with his consultors, again considered the offer of Fr. M.Goonetilleke, the Missionary Apostolic who, since 18 november 1946 offered one of his properties in the diocese of chilaw, some 35 miles from Colombo. He had studied in rome and also had been at Sts. John and Paul and he believed that the Passionists would do very well with the preaching of mission, retreat and spiritual direction. The Bishop of chillaw was in agreement. However no conclusion was ever reached. In the interim the difficulties to enter Ceylon were increasing and in 1956 the missionaries could only enter if they were employed as translators of documents, at which the Italians were particularly adept. The Curia believed that Fr. Sofronio as well as other religious of the Pieta (PIET) Province could translate the Dutch documents. “ there were various preparations ; however in the end once again this endeavour failed because visas were not granted.

Once again the mediation of Cardinal Gracias

During the stay in Rome in the summer of 1959, Cardinal Gracias re-stated his invitation to General to make a foundation in Bombay and elsewhere in india and to eventually send the irish who would be more easily accepted by the government. Fr. Malcolm spoke about the opinion not only of his council, but also that of all superiors of the communities. Fr. Malcolm, on the occasion of his visit to Belgium, stopped in Dublin to get a sense of the mindset of the assembly. Those present decide that the provincial and one of the consultors should go to Bombay to see the properties that were offered by Cardinal Gracias and there discuss some and additional essential matters. When he returned from india he was supposed to stop in Rome to speak with the General and then, in Ireland, he would have made the final decision. Fr. Malcolm informed Cardinal Gracias by means of the letter of 25 November 1959. Following the visit of the provincial and one of the consulors of india, the Irish Provincial Curia decided negatively. Among the reasons for this decision was the following that was started in the letter of 24 February 1960:
We believe that english mission and retreat work is on the decline and even now insufficiant
To keep priests occupied; that knowledge of two constrant employment;that the financial remuneration from mission and retreat work would provide no more, at most, no provinceno more. At most , then a bare maintenance; that this province would have to support the venture for many years to come, and indefinitely, at cost of thousands .
Fr. Malcolm informed Cardinal Gracias that, due to the commitment that the Irish province had undertaken in Bechanaland and in Union of south Africa, and the urgent needs within the home province itself, if felt that it was not in a positon to accept the proposal to make a commitment ind india,This refusal was done very regretfully: “ I am sure our congregation firmly established in india. And we were looking forward in the not so distant future to having Indian Passionists Despite the fact that we are united to india by a social bond through our estimated Monsignor Kierkels, we seen fated to have our hopes repeatedly deferred. This is not the first time that a foundation in edily deferred. This is not the first time that a foundation in india and seriously discussed, only to have a combination of circumstances thwart out desires. I sincerely hope that through the working of Divine Providence the Passionists shall eventually be an interegral part of the curch in India.