Among the first houses that were established in South India, the Holy Cross Novitiate was started in 1960 adjacent to the Holy Cross Seminary that had been bought in 1959 and now occupied by the Contemplative Carmelites. It was opened with the intention of preparing young candidates from the South for the missions of the North-East. Situated in Yercaud, a small town with an altitude of 4200 feet above sea level in the Shevaroy Hills of the state of Tamil Nadu, the novitiate is set in an ambience of natural beauty and an invigorating climate. The first novice-master was Fr. Harold Breen, c.s.c. who remained so until he died in India in 1964.

Young candidates who wish to become religious of Holy Cross--either as Brothers or as Priests--spend an entire year here and are introduced to basic concepts and practices of religious life in Holy Cross. They are prepared for commitment in one of the three sectors of Holy Cross in India, i.e. the District of Brothers, the Province of Priests of North-East India, or the Province of Priests of South India.

Here, in Yercaud, the candidates spend much time in prayer, reflection, study, spiritual reading and manual work. All this is done in an atmosphere of silence and recollection so that they develop a taste and love for the spiritual life. However, they are not totally secluded from the real world. On weekends they are actively engaged in pastoral ministry in the local parish and are involved in educating the poor children of the place. It is here that Holy Cross has been instrumental in starting the Social Service Guild of Yercaud. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!” So the novices also have certain days when they go on hikes/picnics and enjoy a relaxed time together in the many picnic spots that Yercaud has to offer.