Formation Houses
St. Clares Convent
Dinanagar (Estd. 11th August 1985)
After
having completed 10 years of missionary activities in Punjab,
working in 6 stations, we felt the need of a common house of our own and to
start recruitment and formation of candidates and to encourage local vocations.
Most. Rev. Symphorian Keeprath the Bishop of Jalandhar whole heartedly
supported this idea. We were on the look out for a suitable place. Mother
Romuald was the Superior General, Mother Anne Tresa the Provincial Superior of
Pala, Sr. Aloshia the Mission Superior and Mother Symbrose the mission
Councillor. Negotiations started to buy a plot of land at Dinanagar 12 kilo
metres away from Gurdaspur under the leadership of Mother Symbrose. With the
help of Rev. Fr. Guido O.F.M. Cap. the Principal of Little Flower Convent
School and Parish Priest
of Gurdaspur. Rev. Fr. Joseph Zacharias O.F.M. Cap. the assistant parish priest
and Mr. B.D. Sharma, an officer in Central Bank of India a suitable plot of land at Awanka village
near Dinnanagar railway station was
found out. 4 acres of land was bought for Rs. 1,90,000 and its registration was
done in three stages i.e. 12th May, 19th May and 30th
May 1983. The mutation was done on 23rd November 1983. The
registration was done in the name of Little Flower Convent School Gurdaspur
under the diocese of Jalandhar.. Through
the efforts of Rev Fr. Guido O.F.M. Cap. an amount of Rs. 3,20,000 was obtained
as foreign aid from Kolon, Germany to buy the plot and to start the construction.
A miraculous
incident
A
miraculous incident took place on
the day of the blessing of the convent. While the carpenters were lifting the
figure of the crucified Lord to be fixed on the wall of the sanctuary the
ladder they were standing on broke down. The carpenter was falling down with
the 4 feet tall statue of the Lord from a height of 20 feet. The sisters watching the scene were holding
their breath. Quite miraculously within a moment the main carpenter was on the
floor holding the statue of the Lord safe and sound. He exclaimed I saved Jesus
and Jesus saved me. Every one heaved a sigh of relief and thanked and Praised
the Lord.
Common House in Ujjain -St.
Francis Convent Pawasa
The provincial council
considered the need of having a common house in Ujjain. It was at this juncture that the
M.S.T. fathers of Ujjain
sought our collaboration in starting a school at Ujjan. Negotiations were started
under the leadership of Sr. Sysomi Puthenpura and Sr. Maria Cicilia with the
M.S.T. fathers. Not far from the Ujjain Railway Station and the Bishops house 3.5
acres of land was bought at Pawasa near Ujjain
city in 2004 for Rs. 10 lakh and 1.5 acres for 7.5 lakh in 2005, in the name of St. Francis Educational and Charitable
Society at Pawasa, with the technical assistance of the M.S.T. fathers near the
plot they bought for the school. The help of the M.S.T. fathers especially Rev.
Fr. Peter Vattappara M.S.T. the Regional Director of M.S.T and Rev. Fr. Joseph
Kochayankanayil M.S.T in buying and fencing the property and renovating the
existing small house is worth remembering. A
contract was made between Rev. Fr. Kurian Ammanathukunnel Director General of M.S.T
and Sr. Celine Maria the Provincial Superior of St. Francis Provice Jalandhar
with regard to the service in the school and mutual collaboration.
Sr. Maria Cicilia and Sr. Annie
Panjikunnel started to take admission to the school in March 2006 staying in the S.H. Provincial House.
Sr. Maria Cicilia, Sr. Pauline Therese and Sr. Lissa Jose Madappallikunnel
started to live in the rented school building on 3rd July 2006 and
the nursery was opened on 9th July 2006. Sr. Maria Cicilia had done
the necessary ground work for the school and the common house. Owing to ill
health she had applied to the General Council for a change of province and went
back to Pala in May 2007. Sr. Maria Cicilia had served as Principal of Deepti
Convent School Shujalpur for 5 years. The committed service she offered at
Shujalpur and Pawasa is remembered gratefully.
A small building which existed in the plot of
land was renovated and it was blessed on 26th June 2007 by Mar
Sebastian Vadakkel Bishop of Ujjain.
The sisters started to live there on 1st Sept. 2007. The new community was formed with Sr. Pauline
Therese as Superior,
Sr.Lisa Jose Madappallikunnel and Sr. Teena as the other members. Along with
teaching in the school the sisters visit the families and share the love of
Jesus with the Hindu, Muslim brethren around. They also take interest in
cultivating the land. Wheat, soyabean and vegetables are grown there.
Surmounting many obstacles the necessary
permission from the government and the Municipal authorities to construct a
building in the land was obtained in January 2011. Sr. Pauline Therese took
much pain in this regard. A common house for prayer and common gathering of the
sisters and for a stage of formation was intended here.