Diocese: Allahabad
Pioneers: Sisters Cymprosa D’Almeida, Josline D’Souza, Maria Magdalene Mascarenhas
Mirzapur is situated adjacent to the Delhi-Howrah rail road known as the Grand Cord; the road had been constructed by the British in 1866. Fatima Ashram is situated a kilometre to the Eastern part of the Mirzapur railway station; it is sandwiched (both by way of its geographical location and its confined constitution) within the campus of St Mary Inter College, Mirzapur.
Mirzapur is a multi-religious and multi-occupational conglomeration. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs residing at Mirzapur are involved in professions like carpet industries, agriculture and railway work. The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters were invited to Mirzapur in view of evangelization, catechesis and education. Bishop Baptist Mudartha, metropolitan of Allahabad invited them. Bishop Isidore Fernandes, his successor renewed the agreement on April 15, 1992.
Ever since their arrival at Mirzapur on June 8, 1989, the Sisters have engaged themselves in the field of education. St Mary Inter College, Mirzapur is distinguished for quality education. Along with academic studies, the Sisters impart gospel values to children which is certainly an unequalled manner of evangelization. Besides teaching in the school, the Sisters engage themselves in pastoral needs of the parish. They attend to the spiritual needs of the believers who constitute 28 Catholic families by visiting them regularly. They visit also non-Catholic families, listen to the woes of the people and offer them consolation.
Several children who cannot afford to study in distinguished schools are coached by the Sisters in the evenings in the convent premises. In empowering people, the Sisters create awareness regarding health and hygiene; they also take up with passion issues related to girl children, women and children.
Outskirts of Mirzapur and in particular surroundings of the magnificent school building of St Mary are yet to see the beams of development. This situation of the people who are deprived of essentials for a modest living invites the Sisters to take up the challenge of more social involvement at Mirzapur.
