Diocese: Chikmagalur
Pioneers: Petronilla D’Silva, Antonette, Alice Lewis and Simplicia D’Souza
The dedicated work of the Sisters at Koppa and Balehonnur had given them ample publicity in the Diocese of Chikmagalur. Fr Joseph D’Souza, the parish priest of St Rita’s church which was the first parish of the newly erected Diocese of Chikmagalur, invited the Sisters to bless Jayapura with their services. These were required in forming the faith of the ‘little flock’ that resided in and around Jayapura. Apart from this, they were assigned the tasks of beginning a tailoring as well as a nursery class and coaching the SSLC children in view of procuring good results.
When the Sisters arrived at Jayapura on June 1, 1973, their residence lacked even the basic needs. Hence they dwelt at Nirmala Convent, Balehonnur, established a decade earlier, and stayed there until June 10, 1973. Immediately after their arrival, the Sisters involved themselves in pastoral activities. Sr Antonette recollects her catechism class that consisted of sixty children. Along with Sr Alice she also coached the school children; the modest income thus obtained had been a means to balance the meagre remuneration of Rs. 200/- they received from the parish.
Sr Petronilla D’Silva, fetched some income from the tailoring class (Rs five per head); she used the opportunity to form the faith of her students; she also inculcated in them the values of the Kingdom. Sr Simplicia supported their venture by being a kind-hearted mother at home. The Sisters visited the Karkigunda (in the coffee estate) substation regularly and assisted in catechizing and in the reception of sacraments.
The construction of the convent building was completed in 1974 with the assistance of Fr Joseph D’Souza. A part of the convent building was used to house ten destitute children. Gradually the Sisters started a nursery section by fetching children daily from their homes. The only place they could obtain for the purpose was the parish church – a portion of the Church was curtained off and used as a classroom for six months until the class was shifted to the newly erected convent building in 1976. A school building was erected braving all the odds in 1973 on a 3.25 acre of land received from the diocese.
The school put up and brought up with sweat and tears has come up to be a symbol of success. Now the school has been upgraded till VIII. As the number of students kept increasing year by year, the Sisters felt the need of putting up a multi- purpose hall; the hall was constructed and inaugurated on March 29, 1995. The labour of love put in the construction of the hall by Sr Celomia Olivera and the other Sisters certainly calls for admiration.
The pioneers and the successive members who served the people of God at Jayapura count the blessings with joy today. They remember with gratitude Fr Joseph D’Souza who made their stay at Jayapura joyful in spite of all the odds. Even though he was transferred from Jayapura within a year of the arrival of the Sisters, he supported them until his death on July 21, 2008. The Sisters also owe their gratitude to Mr Henry Pinto and his family, Basrikatte for financing the construction of toilets in Christa Prabha Convent in 2006.
The Sisters are active apostolically. They visit families, coach school dropouts and guide students in their selection of future career. They are faithful to the charism of the Congregation, namely, the catechizing of children and adults, preparing them for the reception of the sacraments, animating SFO and Youth Association. These interactions keep the Sisters united with the people.
