Uday Bhavan mission was started by Rev. Fr. Pius Tei, an Italian Capuchin of Tuscany Province. Indian Capuchins arrived in Bilaspur at the invitation of the Italian Capuchins who gifted 35 acres of land to the Indian Province to begin a foundation in the North. An agreement was signed to this effect between the two provinces on February 23, 1968. The first batch of friars - Br. Timothy and Br. Joseph Jai Prakash reached Bilaspur in November 1967, and Br. Valerian in 1968. Br. Timothy started a school with a few children in the same year which was aptly named the Uday Vidyalay.

A farm house was used as the residence of the friars and their chapel. Br. Dionysius James and Joseph Jai Prakash served the school for many years. Foundation stone for the St. Thomas Church was laid by Fr. Pius on October 03, 1971, and the foundation for Uday Bhavan was laid by Br. Blaise, the Superior Regular on October 03, 1973. The church and friary were blessed by Most Rev. Patrick Nair, Bishop of Meerut on March 20, 1975. The foundation was laid on the same day for the new building of Uday Vidyalay. Uday Bhavan, Bilaspur was the first headquarters of the superior regular till it was shifted to St Patrick’s Church (Holy Angels’), Sahibabad.

The pivot point of our presence in Bilaspur was the efficient management of St. Joseph’s Cooperative Farming Society entrusted to the Capuchins of Uday Bhavan which had its headquarters in Joseph Nagar. The whole purpose of the farming society was the development of the farmers, all of them being Catholics, and in that way to work out the mission aspect of the Church. Our brothers were fully involved in the administration and animation of the Society. Most of them being members of the society, and some as office bearers as president, secretary, treasurer etc. of the same. The members and the farms of St. Joseph’s Cooperative Farming Society were spread out in the areas of Joseph Nagar, Martin Nagar and Isa Nagar. Gradually the Isa Nagar group bifurcated themselves from the mother society, but the mother society continued in Joseph Nagar. Isa Nagar group made their own decisions, while the Joseph Nagar group remained rooted in the strict rules of the society.

An important milestone of Uday Bhavan was the development of the farm of the house. In the beginning Br. Valerian led a challenging work in the farm in levelling the ground and making the flow of water even across the fields.

Br. Chacko organised the farming with the help of our people who were farmers. He had brought up farming to an ideal state so much so that many farmers used to come even to consult the brother. If Valerian did the work by his own manual labour, Chacko went a step further to plan and organise the work to be done by others.

With the financial assistance from Caritas India a health clinic with special treatment for snake bite cases was started in Bilaspur which is today managed by the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace. A new dimension was added to the medical service with the establishment of a Convent of Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Graces in Joseph Nagar in 1981, who not only took over the dispensary but also started visiting homes in the village for imparting health education. A dairy extension project was also started for 36 farmers with the help of Christian Aid, London. Besides, there are 120 members in the St. Joseph Cooperative Farming Society, whose management was entrusted with the Capuchins. In 1978, a housing scheme and food for work programme were initiated.

On November 3, 1977, foundation stone was laid for the chapel in Martin Nagar by Br. Pius Tei. Br. Jai Prakash, till then teaching in Uday Vidyalay, Joseph Nagar, started a filial school in Martin Nagar in July, 1975. In 1982, while driving his moped, Br. Jai Prakash met with an accident; he was hit by a running bus from behind which left him lying unconscious. He was taken to hospital in Bareilly, then shifted to Holy Family Hospital, Delhi, where he recovered.

Franciscan Clarist Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (CFMSS) came to Martin Nagar and St. Martin’s School was handed over to them in 1989.

At present, the two parishes of Joseph Nagar and Martin Nagar, along with Fatima Nagar, are being looked after by Krist Jyoti Province.