Diocese: Varanasi
Pioneers: Sisters Maria Rodrigues, Mary Rego and Juliana Pereira
The two establishments, namely, at Bareilly and Mirpur had already served as means of publicity for the untiring commitment of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters especially in the service of the marginalized. Their dedicated service was required at Mau. At the request of Bishop Patrick D’Souza of Varanasi Diocese, Sisters Maria Rodrigues, Mary Rego and Juliana Pereira arrived at Mau on May 29, 1979. Their primary task was educational: they served as teachers at the diocesan school. Initial hitches obliged them to reside at the convent of the SRA Sisters at Azamgarh almost for a year, from 1979 to 1980, until the convent building was ready on May, 1980. The Sisters carried on their responsibility with utmost dedication in spite of the fact that they obtained a meagre allowance.
The diocese had a pastoral design, namely, to establish religious institutes in all its rural areas. Accordingly, (and since Mau had the hospital of MSJ Sisters), the base of the school had to be shifted to Tajopur. Alongside the construction of the school building, a convent building was put up in the school premises. The convent building was ready for habitation on February 23, 1990. A minimum of three-to-four Sisters have been rendering their services in the school all the while; head teacher of the school has been a Sister all along. Currently, the school grades up to class XII. It has been affiliated to the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) Board, New Delhi and has been upgraded to ISC (Indian School Certificate). The tireless efforts of Sisters Sangeeth D’Souza, Rosy Tellis, Jenvita Pinto and Cecilia D’Souza and at present Sr Apoline Pinto require a mention in achieving the above-noted milestones of the school. As the convent building was in a dilapidated condition, the diocese constructed a new convent building. This act of the diocese should be considered rightly a gesture of gratitude towards the unassuming service of the Sisters.
Education, no doubt, is supposed to be the focus of the Sisters. The Sisters have been fulfilling this task loyally. Nonetheless, they employ their teaching profession to assist people in their personal and social life. By means of education, they aim at building bridges in areas where caste system has erected barriers too high to cross. This seems to be a huge task in the caste-smitten state of Uttar Pradesh. The Sisters aim at this venture in the school as well by imparting value education and moral science to children.
Pastorally, the Sisters reach out to people of Bahudurganj, a substation of Tajopur parish. They take utmost care regarding spiritual growth of the Catholic children both at Tajopur and at Bahudurganj; their objectives are character building and faith formation. The Sisters coach regularly the children of the supportive staff of the school. They also catechize them on Sundays. The Sisters believe firmly that there is a lot more to be done in the service of the Kingdom, which they strive to do by being signs of hope and love.
