Diocese: Varanasi
Pioneers: Sisters Severine Sequeira and Violet Sequeira
The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters toiled hard at Bareilly, their first ever mission in the State of Uttar Pradesh of North India. Their untiring labour of love in the service of people, the marginalized in particular, had been noticed and talked about. They had crafted for themselves a niche in the heart of people as well as the diocesan authorities. Subsequently, Bishop Patrick D’Souza of Varanasi Diocese invited them to take up one of the most underdeveloped areas of the State of Uttar Pradesh, namely, Mirpur. Even to date, Mirpur does not seem to have developed much. The first book of the History of the Congregation supplies socio-economic-cultural condition of the place vividly. In keeping with the details noted therein, this section is a continuation of the life of Shree Yesu Ashram from 1990 onwards.
The key objective of the presence of the Sisters at Mirpur is twofold: imparting and forming faith and imparting quality education especially to girl children. In order to meet the goal, the Sisters assumed the responsibility of administering the girls’ boarding house. The scheme was proposed by Bishop Patrick D’Souza and implemented by the Norbertine Fathers (who have been serving in Mirpur) in 1995. Catholic girls from remote villages of Varanasi were/are the chief beneficiaries of the boarding facilities. Initially, the boarding house took in eight girls. Pursuing the need to accommodate more children, the Norbertine Fathers constructed a well-furnished, spacious building with a capacity to accommodate 40 children; the boarding house was inaugurated on February 22, 2011. It is truly equipped for decent amenities: each child has a bed; the Fathers have provided a generator as Mirpur is known for frequent power cuts. The present number of students is 24. Sr Shaila Gonsalves, the present animator of the community, has managed to obtain a sponsorship of Rs 300/- each for fifteen boarders. Sr Cicilia Tauro has been in charge of the boarders for the last few years. The Sisters in general are true witnesses when it comes to identifying with the downtrodden. Their unassuming labour in the service of the ‘little ones’ calls for a mention in the pages of the history of our Congregation. They have been involving themselves wholly in every exercise of the children including harvesting and threshing the grains – cultivating grains in the adjacent fields seems to be part of the curriculum of the boarders in view of obtaining self-sufficiency.
The Sisters make themselves available to form children in faith both in the boarding and in the school. They also involve themselves in the faith formation of people. They catechize them, join them for family Rosary, visit Catholic families three times a week, participate in SCC prayers and arrange for the celebration of the Eucharist in villages on occasions meaningful to the people. They also counsel them in times of distress.
The other objective of imparting quality education to children has been a trial indeed for the Sisters at Mirpur. The Hindi Medium School started in 1978 (in a mango grove) and gradually built as a structure grading up to class V imparted education to children of near and remote villages of Mirpur for almost 25 years. Only in 2004, the school has been upgraded to class VII. These details point to the distressing reality of Mirpur. A heart-rending scene further unfolds the painful reality at Mirpur. Malnourishment, constant illness, insufficiently dressed and barefooted children (even during severe cold) are a common sight at the school campus. A new block is being added to the existing building in view of upgrading the school to junior high school (classes VIII-X). The block in conjunction with toilets is a generous contribution of the Norbertine Fathers from Netherland. Prospects for beginning a junior college are also somewhat bright.
Mirpur is underdeveloped in all areas. The pathetic state of affairs of the area compelled the Sisters to focus on socio-medico needs of people. Ever since the inception of the convent at Mirpur, one Sister has been kept aside full time solely for social and medical apostolate. The Shree Yesu Ashram Dispensary which was started in the same year as the arrival of the Sisters in Mirpur, with the assistance of the Diocese of Varanasi is rendering yeoman service to people of neighbouring village. The Sister attends to all general illnesses and delivery cases. In view of welfare of women and children, the Sister conducts programmes such as Mother and Child Care, health awareness camps for teenage girls and women; polio drops for babies, medical examination for school children etc. Sisters Severine Sequeira, Gracilda Dias, Rosa Dias, Julia Noronha, Seleen Mary, Sushma Ekka and Cecilia Geeta have been those who cared for the sick of the village. Currently, Sr Gracilda (third timer at Mirpur) serves as a member of the medical personnel. The Diocese of Varanasi has assisted in these endeavours to a large extent through various projects of the diocese. Detecting children who have dropped out of school and who are of age to begin schooling is also an integral part of the mission of this Sister. For three years now a Sister has been working full-time as a social worker. Sr Sujatha Tirkey undertakes the responsibility at present. Guiding the existing thirteen SHG groups and conducting non-formal education are her key responsibilities. Currently 5 Sisters, 2 health workers and12 teachers are striving to assist the people of Mirpur to realize their dignity as the children of God. In this context, the endeavour of Sr Antonette and Sr Cicilia Tauro to identify themselves with the marginalized, calls for a mention. In 1999, they lived with people in their houses on experimental basis. However, the scheme had to be discontinued due to unhygienic conditions of villages.
To live and work in Mirpur one ought to wrestle against numerous odds. Conveyance is one of them. Due to lack of proper roads, the Sisters had to walk a three kilometre distance to the town with heavy weight on their head until 2004. They have certainly transformed the challenges into opportunities. Seemingly the community members of Mirpur were the first Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to ride bicycles for marketing and other similar purposes. The tarred road constructed in 2004 has given them a respite. Likewise, the Sisters had to reside in extremely poor conditions. After having changed to three different structures (mostly in dilapidated condition), for a period of 20 years, they have finally managed to reside in decent living conditions. The renovation of the convent building has been financed partly by the Norbertine Fathers. The renovated convent was blessed on September 8, 1997 by Bishop Patrick D’Souza of Varanasi Diocese.
Even though Mirpur has not developed as it ought to have been, the labour of the Sisters has certainly borne fruit. The faith of people has deepened: the grotto of our Mother constructed in the convent premises with contribution of Catholic women evidences this claim. People gather around the grotto for prayer in the evenings. Economic condition of the people has begun to show signs of growth: mud huts in the immediate neighbourhood are being altered into brick buildings. People have realized the need of literacy: children arrive at school even though they reach late.
On the other hand, the abject poverty that lingers in and around Mirpur moves one deeply and impels one to act. The reality of Mirpur also generates awe and admiration towards the Sisters living and striving for the uplift of people.
