Diocese: Aizawl
Pioneers: Sisters Victoria Serrao, Veronica Gomes and Veera D’Costa
At their visit to Chingchhip and Serchhip in 1976, Sisters Margaret D’Souza and Bernarda D’Souza, the Councillors General were informed that the people of Lunglei (one hundred kilometres south of Serchhip) are eagerly waiting for the Jesuits of Kerala Province to begin their mission specifically in the field of education. The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters were to assist the Jesuits in their apostolate; however, the inability of the Sisters to meet this need made the Bethany Sisters to take over the mission until the arrival of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters on December 1, 1978. Sisters Victoria Serrao, Veronica Gomes and Veera D’Costa were pioneers to the mission. Sr Severine D’Souza replaced Sr Victoria Serrao, on December 29, 1978; Sr Margaret D’Souza was appointed first Superior at Lunglei in February 1979. As is the case elsewhere, here too, the Sisters did not own a residence; they had to reside in a hostel building which was run by the government for working girls and women.
The Sisters contributed to the education by being effective and ideal instructors in the school. Alongside, they toiled to build the life of faith of the students. This was easier since a large number of populace in Mizoram is Christian even though not Roman Catholic. The Catholic families in Lunglei numbered only five. The Sisters reached out to people irrespective of religion or belief systems. They also contributed to the spiritual and psychological well-being of the people.
After fifteen years of their arrival at Lunglei, the Sisters were able to reside in a convent building of their own. The Sacred Heart Convent was blessed by Bishop Denzil D’Souza and inaugurated by Sr Jeraldine D’Souza, Provincial Superior on April 17, 1996. A hostel for girl students was started in the ground floor of the convent building on January 14, 1997. On August 1, 2009 the existing convent building was raised to a second floor, which is being used now as a hostel.
On July 16, 1999 the community members at Sacred Heart had to awake to a shock and sorrow of an untimely death of Sr Winnie D’Souza from Kulur. Her mortal remains were laid to rest at the premises of St Peter Convent, Chhingchhip, on July 18, 1999.
