Diocese: Mangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Carita Sequeira, Martina D’Almeida, Jude D’Souza and Eugenia D’Souza
The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters received an invitation from Fr J B Alvares, parish priest of St Ann Church, Kelarai to render their service in the parish and in the primary school. Sr Genevieve Castelino, Superior General, responded positively to the request by sending Sisters Carita Sequeira, Martina D’Almeida, Jude D’Souza and Eugenia D’Souza to Kelarai on July 14, 1958. While occupying a portion of the house of Mr J S Alvares, a well known novelist, writer and editor of the weekly Dirvem, at Kelarai for ten months, and carrying on their regular activities at the parish and in the school, they worked for constructing a convent building. The house was put up in a half-acre land given by the parish. In addition, a two-acre land was purchased from Mr J S Alvares. The convent building was ready for inauguration and blessing on May 31, 1959. It was placed under the patronage of Our Lady of Fatima.
Kelarai has a jagged topography with lowlands, hillocks and above all a granite-constituted rocky surface, which renders cultivation arduous; moreover, the tiny plots of land people own further complicates the process of agriculture. This reality had trimmed down the means of livelihood; as a result, poverty was extensive in the region. The Sisters attempted to address the situation through education. They began teaching at St Joachim Lower Primary School started in 1937 by Fr Gratian Mathew Goveas. Sr Eugenia carried the school forward in the process of growth during her ten-year tenure (1958-1968) as head teacher. Successive head teachers, Sisters Barbara Franko, Emma Vas, Candida Monteiro, Irene Castelino, Maureen D’Souza, Agnes Fernandes, and Luella D’Souza maintained the legacy of the school. Finally in 2011 the Sisters brought to an end their teaching ministry in the Primary School with Sr Matilda D’Sa being the last teaching Sister.
Fr J B Alvares had envisioned establishing a high school at Kelarai. In view of this he put up a high school building in 1972 at a distance of half a kilometre from Fatima Convent. The school was made over to the UFES’ management. The High School campus consists of four acres of land; two acres, gifted by Fr J B Alvares, and two more acres, purchased by the Sisters from the diocese. The High School was named Amritlalji, Hindi version of the name St Joachim the patron of the Primary School. Sisters Innocence D’Souza, Nonnita Pinto, Flavia Tauro, Ancilla Pinto, Leena Rodrigues, Theresia Serrao and Letitia D’Silva have been its head teachers over the years.
Being true to the objective of the High School, the Sisters have been offering quality education to students of Kelarai and its suburbs, most of whom are poor. They visit families of students in order to learn about their situation. Ecology, health, and hygiene have been other areas of focus at the School. Their toil has borne excellent success in the form of securing 100 percent results three times in the SSLC exams. The students perform extremely well in extra-curricular activities such as games and sports. The Bharat Seva Dal unit of the High School has created history by bagging the shield in march-fast performance on the Independence Day and Republic day parades at the district level. The School celebrated its silver jubilee on December 12, 1997. On the occasion, the foundation stone was laid for a hall, which was inaugurated at the completion of its construction in 2001.
The Sisters render wholehearted service in the parish church. Besides they attend SCC prayer meetings in twelve wards of the parish, animate youth camps and CLC and YCS meetings. They prepare the children for the reception of sacraments, distribute communion, visit the sick in the parish, pray with them, and share their joys. Sometimes they pray with the parishioners in the Convent chapel. They animate the Women Association and conscientize them on the prevailing social evils. They encourage and support the Catholics to contest in civic polls.
The Convent building has been remodelled and renovated over the years according to the needs of the Sisters. In 1979, a new building was constructed, in 1993, the kitchen was renovated and the floor of the Convent was replaced with tiles. A new block was added and was inaugurated on January 10, 2002. On this occasion, the Generalate and the Provincialate gifted five cots and ten cupboards respectively. Sisters Carita Sequeira, Eugenia D’Souza, Barbara Franko, Emma Vas, Claudia Tauro, Candida Monteiro, Lilia Rasquinha, Ancilla Pinto, Lilly Pinto, Benny Lobo, Annie Sequeira, Marita Veigas and Elize D’Costa have been animators of Fatima Convent ever since 1958. Fatima Convent has made itself available for programmes of the Congregation and the Province. They include a six-day programme for postulants of the Congregation in 1983, a retreat for forty Sisters of the Province and a junior Sisters’ programme. The Sisters of Fatima Convent have made joyful contribution towards these programmes.
There have been celebrations at Fatima Convent: The golden jubilee of the Convent was celebrated on May 2, 2009. The silver jubilee of the religious profession of Sr Maureen D’Souza was celebrated on May 26, 1993, of Sr Leena Rodrigues on May 9, 1998 and of Sr Letitia D’Silva on May 26, 2006. Sr Crispine Braggs celebrated the golden jubilee of her religious profession on May 9, 1996.
Fatima Convent attempts to respond to the needs of the times suitably. In 2013, a boarding house for high school children has been started in the Convent. It has six children. The Sisters continue the good work initiated in 1958 with the spirit of dedication and faithfulness to their charism.
