Diocese: Mangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Clemence Noronha, Christine Andrade and Hilda Lobo
Tracing the history of Shanthi Nilaya at Bagambila, Panir evokes memories of late Bishop Basil S D’Souza of Mangalore Diocese. This is because the only vast property of the Congregation 35.54 acres was purchased at his insistence. He had insisted on procuring for the Congregation immoveable property as an enduring source of income. Thus the property at Bagambila consisting of two separate plots measuring 14.40 acres and 21.14 acres belonging to a Muslim couple was procured by Sr Ernestine D’Almeida, Superior General and her team on April 23, 1980. The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters pay him due homage for his professional guidance and diligent persistence. When purchased, the plots consisted of yielding coconut and areca palms as well as cocoa plants. In order to render the property economically viable – as intended – a modest house was put up immediately. It was christened ‘Shanthi Farm’. The structure exists to date in a remodelled form, in the original location, closer to the Convent, Shanthi Nilaya. Being true to the name, the shelter has been a farm house and used solely for farm-related activites.
Sisters Clemence Noronha, Christine Andrade and Hilda Lobo, pioneers to Shanthi Farm, and the successive members namely Sisters Elizabeth Suarez, Letitia D’Silva, Lucia D’Souza, Cicilia Tauro, Florine Vas, Shanthi D’Souza, Irene D’Souza, Irene Reema D’Souza, Dominica Lopez, Wenscy D’Souza, Hazil D’Souza and Rupin Veigas have toiled at the vast property just like any other labourer. Sr Hyacinth Pinto, animator at St Joseph Convent Panir along with her Sisters supported them a good deal. Sr Gertrude D’Sa, Councillor General, in charge of land and building, assisted in maintaining the assets of the farm. Toiling at the farm relentlessly and joyfully, the Sisters have represented truly Jesus the worker. Nonetheless, their toil and living conditions rendered their situation dismal. In view of improving the state of affairs, a new convent building was put up. Sr Barbara Franko, animator of the Somarpann community supervised the construction efficiently. The house was inaugurated on Aug 20, 1990. Sisters Elizabeth Suarez, Lucia D’Souza, and Rupin Veigas were its first occupants. It ought to be noted that the house was permitted to install the Blessed Sacrament only on January 28, 1997. On the other hand, the event marked transformation and development, which is indicated in the change of name of the house from Shanthi Farm to Shanthi Nilaya.
Subsequently several developmental works were undertaken in the campus. The Farm House was renovated entirely and used as a kitchen of Shanthi Nilaya, a fibre portioned room was erected to store areca nuts, three existing open wells were revived and a fourth well was sunk in the plot purchased in 1980 with a view to providing a permanent source of income for the maintenance of the novitiate. The plot was fenced after planting in it coconut and areca palm saplings. Further, two tube wells were sunk and sprinkler irrigation was installed, a new cow shed was constructed, dairy farming was initiated and bio-gas was installed as well. Besides a hostel for women was started converting the hall of the house into fibre partitioned rooms. The hostel catered to nursing students and working women; however, it had to be closed down in 2010 due to increase in number of Sisters in the community.
It is not merely the house and farm that have been equipped with basic amenities; the Sisters too have been enthused in their task with refresher programmes. The Generalate team arranged a seminar for them as well as for all the Sisters engaged in the field of agricultural activities. The seminar arranged at Holy Rosary Convent, Jeppu on October 28, 1993 and attended by thirty Sisters was found fruitful and educative to meet the demands of a globalized world.
Over the years a resourceful and creative utilization of the property of Shanthi Nilaya was planned and implemented. In 2003 one acre of land was used to put up quarters. The residential flats named ‘Shanthi Niketan’ are rented to doctors of the KS Hegde Medical Academy. One more acre was set aside for the North-East Province. A structure erected in that plot in 2008 serves as a transit to Sisters of the North-East Province while catering to students and sick of the Province. As a means to obtain maintenance cost of its needs, Subhodini offers lodging facility to thirty medical students pursuing their studies at the neighbouring medical institutes of KS Hegde Medical College, Yenepoya Medical College, and Fr Muller Homeopathic Medical College. As a final development, the Generalate transferred the administration of Shanthi Nilaya to the Mangalore Province on May 15, 2007 where Sisters Lucia D’Souza and Hazil D’Souza were taking care of the Farm. In 2010 Sisters Clemence Noronha, Consolata Noronha, Patricia Tauro and Florine D’Souza formed the community and engaged themselves in efforts towards the yield of more agricultural products.
The Mangalore Province has continued the resourceful use of the property. Defying the distinction of superior and inferior, namely, white collar jobs as higher and agriculture or farming as lower, the Sisters have established in the campus an English medium school with CBSE guided curriculum. The Assisi School caters inventively to a rapidly growing context of Derlakatte. One is left to envisage further utilization of Shanthi Nilaya such as incorporating subjects related to ecology in the school and even setting up graduation level studies in the area of agriculture.
Along with the hustle of a large surrounding, the Sisters have not sidelined their responsibility towards their charism. They have been involving themselves actively in pastoral activities of the parish. Attending SCC prayer meetings and visiting families have been regular pastoral exercises of the community. Besides thanks to their closeness to mother earth, they are closer to people around them most of whom are farmers; they also foster ecology. The community has a painful event in its history. It is the demise of Sr Clemence Noronha, animator of the community, on December 24, 2012 due to a cardiac arrest.
Several Sisters have toiled at Shanthi Farm and several of them have been toiling at Shanthi Nilaya in various capacities. In and through their work, they have been identifying themselves totally with their fellow labourers. However, their approach to life and work has been different; it has been an approach of Jesus. Their labour of dedication is being recorded in the history of the Congregation and they are an inspiration to generations to come.
