The community in Bonaigarh was opened in response to the invitation of Rt. Rev. Bishop Alphonse Bilung, to share in the apostolate of the Church in the Mission-Parish of Bonaigarh, Rourkela Diocese, Sundargarh, District Orissa.
The special works of this Community would be :-

• Catechetical and Pastoral care.
• Health care and development, through a dispensary and mobile clinic.
• General supervision of Grehani School.

The names of the Pioneers were: Srs. Nazareth, Mary, Lily and Anupama. At present the community members are: Srs. Perpetua, Raphel Mary, Molly and Namratha.
On 29th January 1990, Rt. Rev. Bishop Alphonse Bilung, Bishop of Rourkela diocese, wrote a letter of invitation to the Provincial Superior, Sr. Delphine asking for Sisters of St. Joseph who would share in the mission of the Church, answering the needs of Bonaigarh Parish. In January 1992, the Provincial, Sr. Pius visited Bonaigarh. The Parish Priest gave a letter, offering his residence to accommodate the Sisters, should they come.
On the 10th March 1992, Sr. Pius replied to the Bishop, stating her consent to work in the mission in Bonaigarh. On the 24th June 1992 the community of Chambery Nivas came into existence.
Parishioners mostly reside in the villages at a distance of 18 to 50 km. away from the Parish Church. A few work in the offices of Bonaigarh. At present there are 180 families in the Parish. For one year the Sisters engaged themselves in getting to know the people, their culture, language and local customs.

In 1993, the Sisters started going to the villages by bus. They also began to take active part in Parish activities, such as taking care of the Church, crusades for school children, seminars for youth and programmes strengthening the faith of the adults.

In 1993, Pastoral Programmes were begun. Sisters were teaching Catechism for communicants, guiding pre-marriage instructions, vocation camps, training for volunteers in Health work etc. Five villages were under the pastoral care of the Sisters. Sisters were also given supervision of the Grahani School. In 1995 the rapport between the villagers and Sisters was so good that people began to come to the Sisters for their various needs and guidance. Sisters felt for the first time that the people needed them, accepted them and trusted them. A dispensary was blessed and started functioning in two small rooms. Patients began coming for medical care. The Sisters stayed in the village families for 2-3 days for faith formation. Summer school camps were held to teach Catechism to school going children. An ambulance was acquired through a project for village work. In collaboration with the Government, administration of vaccination was carried out. As the number of patients increased two more rooms were added with the aid of the Government.
Along with other pastoral activities, Sisters rendered their help in programmes on Panchayati Raj and other Government schemes. A sister who was Dioceasan Co-ordinator was chosen as a member of the Orissa Catholic Health Association Board.

The year 1999 has witnessed many atrocities on Christians in Orissa. The poor are no longer satisfied with a Nurses attention but want the latest care, however expensive and seek to go to bigger towns. But we are carrying on with our apostolates.