Diocese: Chikmagalur
Pioneers: Sisters Frances D’Souza, Laureen Vas, Magdelene Souza, Speciosa Alvares and Joanina Patrao.
The life lived by the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters at Balehonnur brings to the fore a string of adversities they had to endure in their task of evangelization, i.e., brining the Good News right from the inception of the Convent. They had to bring the Good News in particular to the suffering and the poor by being poor themselves and through enduring endless suffering.
Balehonnur is a town, situated in the Western Ghats, South- East of Sringeri. Alongside its rich topography and economy it also sustained its social and religious ills. In order to transform the situation in a way that is life-promoting, Fr Nelson Vaz the parish priest of Our Lady of Victory church invited the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to Balehonnur. Their chief focus was to be educators and healers.
Having resided in the guest house of the parish for a short time, the Sisters put up a modest residence of their own in 1970 in the one-acre plot of land provided to them by Chikmagalur Diocese. Despite resistance from a section of people, the Sisters started a school in the convent building. Opposition surfaced again at the development of the school to four classes within a period of two years; the school was on the verge of being closed. Sr Eliza Pinto saved the situation due mainly to the witness the Sisters had already displayed.
As the number of students was increasing steadily, a modest structure was felt to be the need of the hour. The school building was constructed in the plot offered to the Sisters. The construction was completed in 1963. The Sisters had to fight tooth and nail to acquire legally the gifted plot of land. It was a prolonged struggle lasting until 1970. In the meantime, the convent building was constructed; a portion of it was brought down by the incessant rains. After four years of the commencement of the work of the convent, it was inaugurated on April 8, 1970. Then the school was upgraded to higher primary section.
The school building called for a further extension in early 2000s as the number of students kept increasing considerably. On June 27, 2002 foundation stone of the school building was blessed by Fr J D’ Costa and Sr Florine Menezes laid it. A group of French students from Paris arrived in Balehonnur and assisted in the construction of the building. Rotary club of Balehonnur made a handsome donation of Rs 18,000/- for supplying drinking water and to construct toilets. On March 14, 2001 the Nirmala Convent School celebrated the completion of forty years of the challenging life of the Sisters at Balehonnur. As the convent building was in a dilapidated condition by then, a new building was constructed and inaugurated on May 24, 2013
In order to facilitate better administration in the Province, Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts were formed into a region christened Chikmagalur Region on April 30, 2008. Nirmala Convent was chosen to be the Regional House. Sr Lilly Rodrigues as the Regional Superior served the Sisters along with Sisters Theresiamma PJ and Olivia Miranda as Councillors. The appointment came from Sr Doreen D’Souza, the Superior General, and they pronounced their oath in the presence of Sr Olinda Sequeira, the Provincial Superior. The twelfth General Chapter of the Congregation renamed the Region as Delegation and the Regional Superior as Delegate Superior. The Delegate Superior continues to reside at Nirmala Convent, Balehonnur.
In 2007, the Sisters started an English medium school at Balehonnur. Unlike their former years at Balehonnur, the Sisters enjoy peace now and gain respect from people and officials alike.
Alongside teaching in the school, the Sisters fully involve themselves in pastoral activities. They animate youth, choir, sodality, Sunday Catechism and substation ministry at Kadabagere.
