Diocese: Bangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Epiphania Fernandes, Apoline Pinto and Marie Correa
The Holy Family Convent has its origin in the incentive offered by Fr Pacificus Menezes OFM Cap. Having intended to establish a monastery in the suburbs of Bangalore South, he invited the Sisters to join hands with him in the faith formation of people as well their holistic development. The Superior General Sr Genevieve Castelino responded promptly to the invitation and sent Sisters Epiphania Fernandes, Apoline Pinto, and Marie Correa who are the pioneers at Dubasipalya.
They rented a house for their residence at Kengeri until a plot of land was bought at Dubasipalya and a convent building was erected in September 1966. Meanwhile the Sisters ventured into starting a primary school, the beginning of which was made on the corridor of the Capuchin Friars. They braved all hitches that arose in the process and laid the foundation of the Gnanabodhini Kannada medium school on May 28, 1967. Sr Philomena D’Souza took charge of the school as Sr Apoline Pinto breathed her last on July 3, 1967. Sr Severine Barrows and Sr Gemma Pinto took up the challenge of constructing the school building soon after their arrival on June 3, 1969. The school building as well as the convent building saw its completion in 1971. In 1972 an English medium school was commenced at the public demand. On September 17, 1988 a new convent building was blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop Alphonse Mathias.
The school has expanded and developed beyond expectation over the years. Its growth led to shifting the Gnanabodhini High School to the campus of Maria Nilaya in Gollarahatti (now known as Gnanbharathi Layout) in 1989. Consequently the quarters for teachers have been terminated as the teachers have found their own residences. The Primary School celebrated the silver jubilee of its existence. This event of joy was inaugurated by Sr Severine Barrows, Superior General, on June 22, 1991; it was concluded on 31 December 1991.
The Sisters take credit not merely for their educational apostolate. They are an integral part of the parish church even after the parish church was moved in 2001 to the Satellite town from the Deena Seva Ashram at the Capuchin Friary which is at a kilometre’s distance from the Convent. They catechize children and adults, animate youth groups, altar servers, and Marian Sodality; they pray with families and stand by them and with them always.
The Sisters reach out to people in all possible ways. In 1985 Sr Alphonsa Fernandes organized health awareness programmes in Oddarapalya village now known as Shivanapalya. Consequently in response to the need of people a health care unit has been started. The unit organized health and hygiene programmes especially to illiterate and poor women of the locality; it also takes up the task of reinstating children who have been dropped out of school.
The Holy Family Convent has housed the new recruits of the Mysore Province ever since the inception of the Province in 1995. They were accommodated in the renovated wing of the Primary School building until the programme was shifted to Divya Jyothi Convent at Udbur, Mysore in 2009. At Kengeri, the candidates had the opportunity to be in touch with socio- pastoral realities both in the parish and among people. The atmosphere has certainly enriched their vocation.
Certain incidents have shaken the Sisters: Sr Collette Vas died on March 8, 2003. As a community member of the Holy Family Convent, she had toiled strenuously for the well-being of the Sisters and the people. She was laid to rest at Bogadi, Mysore. Sr Winnifred breathed her last on September 17, 2004. Having worked in underdeveloped areas including Bijapur, she was brought to Holy Family in her last days when she was diagnosed with cancer. The mortal remains were laid in the Maria Niketan cemetery Bogadi.
