Diocese: Mangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Benny D’Cunha, Candida Monteiro, Precilla D’Cunha, Reena S Serrao and eleven candidates
Assisi Nilaya, a new establishment of the Mangalore province was set up on June 1, 2013. The founding was necessitated by the fact of bifurcation of the Mangalore Province in which Sirsi – the existing location of the candidate’s house – was made over to the newly established Hubli Vice Province. In keeping to the age-old realization that initial formation of a Province ought to be held within the province, a house was purchased at Vorkady. As the house did not suit the purpose, the Home for Children at Vorkady established in 1938 was converted into the Candidates’ Home.
The renovation and alteration was made in helping with the new objective. The centre square of the structure which had been a garden thus far, had a multipurpose hall built in it; the existing chapel was enlarged by integrating into it the dining room of the Sisters, the kitchen of the Sisters was converted into a guest room, toilets and bathing rooms were constructed where needed. On June 2, 2013 the house was occupied by the candidates; it was renamed Assisi Nilaya after St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the candidates of the Congregation. Bishop Aloysius P D’Souza visited Vokady on August 24, 2013 to make a study of the situation. On November 19, 2013 the erection of the Community was done and the Blessed Sacrament was installed. Sisters Benny, Candida, Precilla, and Reena form the formation community. Eleven candidates hailing from Mangalore, Karwar, Bangalore, and Kerala commenced their formation at Assisi Nilaya on June 2, 2013. Sr Benny D’Cunha is in charge of the candidates, Sr Candida Monteiro administers the house, Sisters Precilla D’Cunha and Reena S Serrao teaches in the St Joseph School of the parish. Besides attending to the needs of the community, the Sisters involve themselves in pastoral activities of the parish. Sisters Precilla and Reena as vocation promoters of the Province undertake all possible trouble to obtain good vocations to the Province.
The community of Assisi Nilaya has several challenging tasks to attend to. To name a few, nurturing and developing the three- acre property which now includes only cashew trees and coconut palms, unfolding the wealth of Assisi Nilaya as a house that generates true followers of Christ, reaching out to the needy around, and being models of faith and hope to Catholics and other people in their surroundings.
