Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The Mission of Khrist Seva Ashram was under the able care of Rev. Fr. Dilasa I.M.S. a zealous missionary. On the June 20, 1971 the house was blessed.
Actually, this house was the Servants’ Quarters where previously priests stayed. The beginnings were hard: not being fluent in the language, extreme heat, change of food, sickness, etc.
Sr. Prabha was the animator. The heat of the north was too much for Mother Marie Eugenie and to her great regret she was obliged to return to the south after a short period. Sr. Kiran was affected by an epidemic fever and was also very sick. With her recovery, the sisters became fully involved in their mission.
In 1972 when Sr. Nirmala came to the north she took charge of the dispensary. This was given to us especially to maintain the girls’ boarding which was looked after by Sr. Kiran.
Since the villages are very far the sisters used to go by bicycle. Sisters took turns to go to the villages, they would go in the evenings and gather the people for catechism and Mass and dine and stay with them and early in the morning return as they had to attend the school. Slowly, ‘Mahila Sangh’ was started and the women of the village became very active and vibrant
Today, we have Higher Primary School with classes up to VIII Std, a boarding for the girls and a well furnished dispensary known as ‘Nishkalanka Matha Dispensary’ which is a great solace for the villages far and wide. There are also reach-out programmes in the villages.
Sisters conduct camps, awareness programs and street plays to make the people become more aware of their rights and duties. Health camps and free medical check-ups are being done regularly to give clear knowledge of diseases and home treatment. Self Help Groups (S.H.G.) is organized and people are taught to make small savings.
There are 80 S.H.Gs at present and 20 community based organizations which are active in the villages. People are encouraged and motivated to send their children to school, especially the drop-outs.
Books and uniforms are provided for the needy children. Sisters are involved in the parochial work too.
This mission is indeed a blessing to the people around and the sisters still keep up the initial spirit and the work that is entrusted to them by the Lord.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The mission in Shahganj was started on the 29, 1974 by three sisters. Sr. Prabha as animator, Srs. Anna Maria and Geetha as the pioneers. To begin with the sisters lived in a small building which was attached to the hostel for boys. Six months later they got a building in the corner of the compound which was the Servants’ Quarters. A small piece of land was given to them to cultivate wheat or paddy for their maintenance.
A dispensary was started but as it is a town, people preferred to be treated by doctors and they had to close it down.
A primary school in the English medium up to classes III belonging to the diocese was looked after by our sisters but the number of students was only 95. In 1977, reading the signs of the place, the management converted it to Hindi medium and it began to flourish and the number of children shot up.
Today, there are seven sisters in the community who work primarily in the education ministry, giving extra guidance and care to the weaker students by coaching, and looking after the spiritual needs of the boarding children. By their selfless dedication the sisters continue to work for the children of the prominently non-Christian area. Besides the education ministry, the sisters are engaged in parochial work and visiting the neighbourhood.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The Mission which was growing felt the need of having local vocations in order to strengthen and extend itself. As a result of the recruiting expeditions of our Sisters to Chota Nagpur a few candidates knocked at our door asking to be received into our Institute.
It was in 1979 that a house was taken for rent at Mauvaya close to Varanasi, to house our first aspirants under the care of Sr. Kiran and Srs. Nirmala and Lata as members of the community.
In 1980, we shifted our house to another rented house called Jhun Jhuni Kunj in Sarnath. In 1983, once again we shifted to one of the diocesan buildings at Bhojubhir. Meanwhile, at Sarang Talab, the future ‘Amardeep’ was under construction.
The Exodus ended in 1984 when we reached our Promised Land. On August 11, the feast of St. Clare, the house was blessed by Most Rev. Bishop Patrick D’Souza and inaugurated by Sr. Mary Pauline, the then Regional superior. The house was dedicated to St. Clare and named as ‘Amardeep’. – The immortal light. Srs. Mary James as Superior, Prabha, Elsy Mathew along with the four candidates Jocelyn (Jacintha) Minj, Shanthi Kujur, Jancy Robert and Leema Joseph (Laly) were the beginners.
The sisters of Amardeep community are fully engaged in developmental activities.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
Our mission in Parjipah started on October 23, 1986 in a rented house in the village itself. Sr. Josephine Mary was the superior; Sr. Daya and Sr. Priska were her companions. Fr. Wilfred was the mission in-charge. Under his guidance they were well nurtured in their spiritual and pastoral life.
The sisters were involved in the parish work, evangelization, home visit, conducting family prayers, caring for the old and the sick, taking tuition for children, conducting vocation camps, etc.
Until the dispensary was ready sisters cared for the patients on the verandah of their house. Later on Fr. Wilfred’s residence became their convent and adjoining to the residence he constructed a dispensary too. In 1988, Rt. Rev. Bishop Patrick D’Souza blessed the dispensary and the convent. The convent was given the name ‘Maria Seva Niketan.’
Fr. Wilfred generously offered a portion of the parish land for their cultivation of wheat, paddy, mustard, etc. After sometime with the permission of the Bishop, Father built a school which is aided by the government and two sisters work in the school. People are encouraged to send their children to the school.
The dispensary helped the sisters to create good rapport with many of the surrounding villages. It is known mainly for cases of safe delivery and treatment of poisonous snake bites.
Regular health check-ups and school medical camps are conducted to help the poor children. The nurse sisters take health education classes for the children every month.
The sisters have formed 29 SHGs with the support of CRD. Most members of the groups have already opened a bank account and have found 15 CBO (Community Based Organization) which take up issues of the villages and make use of the resources available through government schemes.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
Lohata is situated in Dhannipur village in Varanasi District and is a Muslim dominated area. Sisters Asha, Susheela and Vineetha were the pioneers of this mission. In 1988, on July 3rd they landed in this remote area. The diocese offered them a huge, abandoned factory hall for their stay and to start a Hindi Medium school.
The villagers could not imagine how these sisters could survive inside the so called fearful campus. Slowly everything passed and the school became a great attraction and means of communication with the people. A simple celebration of Independence Day of 1988 and the school day gave a lot of surprise to the people.
The people of this area did not expect anything from them other than their love and attention. The sisters loved them and visited them whenever it was possible.
Later, the Bishop had a school built and three sisters are working in the school. To start with, the school was from kindergarten to the VIII Std. It was upgraded to X and later to XII Std. through the hard work of our sisters. When the school was well established the management was taken over by the diocesan priests but our sisters continue to teach in the school.
Taking care of the children of the leprosy patients in a hostel is one of the main apostolates of the community. These children are not able to attend other schools because of the stigma of their parents so the sisters bring them to the hostel and help them for their education.
This hostel started in Amardeep, for both boys and girls who were looked after with much love and motherly care, first by Sr. Prabha and later by Sr. Kiran for many years. It was then shifted to Lohata where the boys were cared for by the parish priest.
After their academic studies these children are given some professional training according to their talents, skills and ability so that they can earn a living. At present there are 59 girls in the hostel.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The boat that stays in the harbor never encounters danger but it also never gets anywhere. So, the FSM took a leap from Varanasi diocese to Jabalpur, Baiswahi. It is a village filled with forests and mountains, where there are neither proper roads nor communication facilities. Most of the people are tribals, very poor and illiterate.
The mission stations are 40 to 50 kilometres apart from one another. Seeing the urgent need of the people for humanitarian services and evangelization, in 1994, the Most Rev. Dr. Theophine O.Prem, Bishop of Jabalpur, invited us to his diocese. He offered 2 places for 2 communities at a time. One in the remote village, Baiswahi and the other one in the heart of the city.
There was a house which was completed for the employees in which sisters began their life on February 11, 1994. Sisters Josephine Mary, the animator, Prabha and Prafulla Kujur, were the pioneers of this community. The tribals were very hospitable and welcoming. Since they had no conveyance they brought the patients in a basket.
In October 1995, the Health Centre and the convent were shifted and inaugurated. The sisters began their mission work by visiting villages and caring for the sick. As the years went by, the fathers began a boarding for the poor children and sisters were teaching and cared for them. At present the boarding for the girls is built and given to us by the diocese and we look after them replacing a mother.
The sisters are also fully involved in the parish activities and pastoral and catechetical work.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
You have a mission which nobody else can fulfill. With this thought our sisters started their journey on July 19, 1994 and landed in Jabalpur diocese, in the state of M.P.
The house which was given to us is in the heart of the city- cantonment area. The pioneers of Mahila Sadan were Srs. Tara, the animator, Srs. Prabha and Daisy Paul.
God’s ways and blessings are unique. The purpose of our coming to this place was to render care and service in the hostel which was newly built by the diocese, for the welfare of the Adivasi girls from different remote villages. This hostel provides shelter and safety for the young girls who come to the city for work and education.
It is also the ‘mission house’ for the sisters of the mission stations of the diocese who come to the city for various reasons. Mahila Sadan is always house-full and our sisters’ selfless services are remarkable and appreciated. It is also a ‘fuelling station’ for the FSM who travel from north to south and back.
Two of our sisters teach in two different schools of the diocese which are near by. Sisters also take part actively in the parish work such as catechism class and pastoral assistance at the Shrine of Mother Mary.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
Franciscan Servants of Mary was invited to serve in Nanesera by the Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Telesphore Toppo, of the Archdiocese of Ranchi in 1992. Having accepted the invitation of the archdiocese, Sr. Mary Pauline, the then Regional Superior visited the place and the O.F.M Fathers. Fr. Alphonse Moras O.F.M. planned for the stay of our sisters. In 1993, Simdega became a separate diocese with Rt. Rev. Joseph Minj as the Bishop.
In 1994 after the visit of Sr. Mary James, the Provincial and negotiating all terms and conditions with the Bishop of Simdega and the Parish Priest – Fr. Thomas Joseph O.F.M, three sisters were sent to the Mission. They were Srs. Anita – Superior, Jocelyn Minj and Prabha Lakra–members of the community. On June 29, 1995 on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul they were officially welcomed by Fr. Cornelius Tirkey the Dean of Tundegi Deanery.use-full and our sisters’ selfless services are remarkable and appreciated. It is also a ‘fuelling station’ for the FSM who travel from north to south and back.
Later on, one acre of land was provided by the people and we built a moderate house with a dispensary attached. On the 17th September, feast of the Stigmata we began our stay in the new incomplete house and continued the ministry in the vi
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The FSM wished to spread out in different parts of India and God provided an opportunity. Rev. Bishop Antony Fernandes of Bareilly Diocese warmly invited us to his Mission to open a school in view of providing education in English medium in a rural area.
As the number of sisters and needs were growing the Province felt the need of having an Institution of its own to support it financially. Having visited the places and the land we decided to pitch our tent in Shahjahanpur – in the village of Chinnoor. On June 29, 1996 Sr. Andrea the animator, Srs. Asha and Rashmi started this new mission in a rented house.
The Bishop gave us a piece of land and the Province bought some. The Lord was gracious to us; within a short time the convent and one of the wings of the school were built. Thus, on November 28, 1998 the ‘Holy Angels’ Convent’ came into existence.
The hard work of the Sisters, Priests, and others bore fruit when the school got recognition from the government, up to X Std. It has been producing good results and is a boon to the surrounding locality.
From 2009, we started class eleven. The sisters are also involved in pastoral activities and non-formal education.
The sisters march ahead like flowers in a barren valley with the guiding light of faith, the transforming power of hope and the life-giving warmth of love.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
After the erection of the Varanasi Province there was a sensing need of training our novices with the local missionary touch. So the novitiate was started on July 3rd 2000 with nine postulants.
It was first situated in the premises of St. Mary’s Hospital, Karoutha. Meanwhile, Rev. Patrick D’Souza gave us a diocesan plot nearby Jyothir Bhavan community and the Province constructed the new house.2001 November 21st, on the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady it was blessed and inaugurated by Rev. Bishop Patrick D’Souza.
On that day the house was adorned by priests, sisters and neighbours. Srs. Annie K.C., Jyothi Lakra and seven novices were the first inmates of that nest. A fitting name was given to the house ‘Samarpan.’ Seven batches have already passed through this sacred house. Take one day at a time on the path way of life and thus make life journey a pleasant and meaningful one.
During the Provincial Chapter and the Assembly of the Institute it was expressed to have a mixture of novices and to have inter-province formation in order to have a better formation.
From 2005 onwards it was carried on and those in formation profited from it. In the year 2009, the inter-novitiate was shifted to Bangalore and postulancy to Samarpan. Thus, Samarpan continues to mould and shape the young ones for the mission of the Lord
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
God takes initiative to love us and that is always with a sense of mission. In response to the Chapters and Assembly of the New Millennium and the awareness of the signs of the times and situations, Varanasi province ventured anew into the Domestic Workers Movement in Lucknow.In February 2001, Sr. Tara, the animator, Srs. Daisy Paul and Chanda travelled to Lucknow with good will and determination.
They stayed in rented houses until they got a house of their own. Sister Daisy Paul worked in the diocesan Socio-Pastoral Centre and others were fully engaged with the people in the slum. In 2006 October 10th the new house ‘Clara Niwas’ was blessed and inaugurated by Rev. Bishop Albert D’Souza, the then Bishop of Lucknow.
As time passed, Navjagriti house also got completed and began to shelter girls who come to the cities in search of work. It is a home for the welfare of women especially domestic workers who fall prey to the evils of society.
Today, in many creative ways, our sisters reach out to the people. There are six centres where tailoring and adult education are given. They are taught dignity of human labour and how to respect themselves and others.
The sisters teach them to read, write, house-keeping, cleanliness and home remedies for ordinary sickness.
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
The Franciscan Servants of Mary were once again invited by the Bishop of Bareilly Rt. Rev. Antony Fernandes, to render medical services to the least of society. In 2002, September16, our sisters arrived to the Health Centre which in the beginning also served as their residence, to reach out to the poor and the sick.
The Centre is situated in the heart of the village where Sikhs of Punjabi origin are a majority. Sr. Therese Thottam, Superior, Sr. Prabha and two postulants were the pioneers of this mission.
Today, many people profit from this Centre and it is a blessing to this locality. We mainly get pregnant ladies, young girls and children. The sisters do visit the village and conduct awareness programs to the people.
We have created a good rapport with the villagers and these villages come under IDEA programme which is funded by Caritas – India.
PROVINCE OF VARANASI
ADDRESS : Maria Nivas convent, 27, Ethiraj samy koil street, Erukkanchery Chennai – 600118.
NO. OF RELIGIOUS : 06
SERVICES
Recognizing the dedicated and generous service of the FSM, the late Rev. Fr. K.P. Joseph, sdb, had an earnest desire to offer one of his schools to the FSM.
Varanasi Province was the beneficiary of this generous offer. So the community of Maria Nivas came into existence on June 1, 2004 at Erukkencherry, North Chennai.
Sr. Limcy, the animator, Sr.Margaret, member of the community and sisters from the Bangalore Province, namely, Srs. Clare Francis, Mary and Annie A.L. rendered their services in the beginning.
Late Rev. Fr. K.P. Joseph was a great educationist and a lover of the poor and the downtrodden. A far-sighted man, he could read the signs of the times for the people of this area who were Burmese refugees living in pathetic conditions.
He spent his entire life relentlessly and without counting the cost, with the sole aim of giving life to these down-hearted masses of people who had to begin their life all over again.
Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School is one such effort, where at present about 2700 students are gaining knowledge through education and excellence.
Apart from running the school, the sisters give free tuition for the poor and slow learners of the locality, train the poor, young women in tailoring, visit families, teach catechism and regularly participate in the Basic Christian Community prayer groups keeping in mind the vision and the mission of our Foundress.
Thanks to the generous and large-hearted gesture of Rev. Fr. K.P. Joseph, the Province is able to stand financially, on its own
1. Education
2. Tailoring
3. Catechism
Address
North Province
No of Religious : Nil
Services
Answering this call of Jesus the FSM turned towards the poorest area of Jharkhand State at Devgaon. Rt. Rev. Paul Lakra, Bishop of Gumla Diocese invited us to this vast pasture.
A new community was formed on June 29, 2008. Sr. Rashmi the animator, Srs. Assunta Kiro and Tresa Masih were the first members of the community of this new venture.
The people are very happy to have sisters in their village. They were like sheep without a shepherd. Any beginning is always hard and so also at Devgaon. The sisters have to walk seven miles to board a bus and other problems like no water and no medical facilities, etc.
They began to reach out to the people lovingly and enthusiastically. A lot can be accomplished by crossing the bridge in our life journey
One sister works in the parish school where we are given a post. The sisters are also engaged in health care in a modest way. M.C.H. is another means of helping the people. The sisters are not afraid to do any sort of help for these under privileged people of God.