Diocese: Mysore
Pioneers: Sisters Maria Rodrigues, Apoline Pinto, Simplicia D’Souza and Imelda Crasta
The Perpetual Succour Convent at Parasa Gaundana Palayam of Chamarajanagar district in Kollegal Taluka is yet another clear indication of the preferential option of the Ursuline Fransiscan Sisters for the poor. Kollegal, once a missionary field of the Society of Jesus, was spiritually administered by the MEP Fathers from France, when the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters set foot in the place. At the behest of the parish priest, Fr Joseph Jaunet MEP, Bishop Albert D’Souza who was the Auxiliary Bishop of Mysore Diocese at the time invited the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters whose dedication to the marginalized was well known to him in Mangalore. Now they were to toil hand in hand with Fr Joseph in uplifting the marginalized of Kollegal and its neighbouring villages.
Sisters Maria Rodrigues, Apoline Pinto, Simplicia D’Souza and Imelda Crasta arrived at Kollegal on June 8, 1961. They underwent initial hassles of poor accommodation, lack of transportation and of clean water and so on. Yet they advanced with an undaunted spirit. Having realized the dire necessity of literacy, they took over the administration of the diocesan school, which was still at the stage of infancy; the school has been upgraded to class X currently. A convent building was constructed in 1962. The diocese has gifted a ten acre land to the Sisters.
Besides empowering people through education, the Sisters have been catering to the sick and suffering people. To expand and enhance the medical service, a dispensary was put up on November 10, 2000. Sr Jyothi Fernandes inaugurated it and Fr Vincent Fernandes the parish priest of St Joseph’s church blessed it.
In the year 2011, the golden jubilee of the presence of the Sisters at PG Palya was celebrated in a simple manner. On the occasion the Vicar General of Mysore Diocese Mgr Marie Joseph, appreciated and acknowledged the tireless services of the Sisters in the parish, school and health centre.
