Bishop Joseph Legrand, CSC became bishop in 1916. He had been a missionary in Japan for six years as a member of the For¬eign Mission Society of Paris before he joined Holy Cross in 1895. He first came to E. Bengal in 1903, returned to France in 1914, then came back as bishop of Dacca June 1, 1917. Due to World War I the See had remained vacant for a full year. The first official act of Bishop Legrand was to name Father Crowley his Vicar General in 1916, recognising fully his zeal and many talents. Fr. Timothy Crowley, CSC, had gone to the USA from Ireland at an early age. After joining Holy Cross he obtained his doctorate at The Catholic University of America and was teaching English at the University ofNotre Dame when he was sent to E. Bengal in 1907.
Bishop Legrand brought in Holy Cross Sisters and Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate to supplement the work of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission, who had worked alone for so many years in E. Bengal.