Diocese: Bangalore Archdiocese
Pioneers: Sisters Jeswina Serrao and Anita Maria Florine
Chetak, a transit house, more specifically, a house for hospitality was inaugurated on May 16, 2007. The dwelling, a long felt dream of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to own a residence of their own within the metropolis of Bangalore was realised by the Generalate. This is because the Sisters had to rummage around for accommodation during their travel to the capital of the State on account of matters related to administration of schools, spiritual courses, study etc. Chetak is situated in ‘Emerald’ in Wilson Manor apartment at the thirteenth cross of Wilson Gardens, Bangalore. It is immediately next to NIMHANS, and eight kilometres to the south-east of the Majestic Bus Stand. The apartment was purchased from Ms Mary Felix who had lived in it for ten years. Fr Devadatta Kamath SJ the mediator in the whole process blessed it. Sr Jeswina Serrao and Anita Maria Florine were pioneers at Chetak.
Chetak is meant to be a transit/hospitality house. Seemingly, its size – 461.50 square feet –, compared to the volume of most of the houses of the Congregation certainly defeats the purpose. Two Sisters, at present Sr Lidwin D’Souza and Sr Asha Panneker residing at Chetak have been sustaining its objective. In view of this, they have been living like the ‘Son of Man without a place to lay down his head’. They have been magnanimous to offer their beds to guests. They have joyfully borne the inconvenience of keeping awake late at night and rising early in the morning in order to attend to the needs of visitors. By such self-sacrificing gestures and attitudes, they have been evidencing that hospitality is a matter of heart than space. An imagery of the ‘primordial womb’ perhaps rightly expresses their labour of love. The meaning of the term ‘Chetak’, – ‘thoughtfulness’ –, seems to have been achieved already by the Sisters to a large extent.
In 2012, a new flat, well furnished, spacious, with 1785 square feet has been acquired in the third floor of the same apartment, ‘Emerald’. It contains more space; the endeavour to providing enhanced hospitability, the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, the need for a time of quiet to derive strength from the Eucharistic Lord, was very much felt by the Sisters who resided at Chetak as well as the visitors. The Superior General, Rev. Sr Doreen D‘Souza and her Council responded positively to this need though the Congregation had to invest a good portion of its Trust Fund to opt for a spacious flat in view of having a Chapel and an additional bed room for Sisters who travel long distance and keep night vigil has become a reality. Undoubtedly, being true to the objective of a transit house in the capital city of the State of Karnataka, Chetak chronicles memorable hospitality in its visitors and induces them to return there someday. While this is remarkable, it is imperative that the Sisters residing at Chetak disseminate their ‘thoughtfulness’ in places where they are needed most, which procures fulfilment to their existence as consecrated religious.
