Diocese: Mysore
Pioneers: Sisters Irene Leena Pais and Joyceline D’Souza
In early 1990s during the administration term of Sr Edilburga Monteiro as the Superior General, the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation had assumed the task of a methodical decentralization – in administration and in formation in the Congregation. Empowering its members by way of academic training in diverse fields and in higher studies was a specific objective of this endeavour.
Accordingly, the East Karnataka Region was instructed to set apart a house for student candidates as well as for student Sisters. A rise in number of candidates to the Congregation was an added reason for this initiative. On August 15, 1994 a readymade house and an adjacent vacant site was bought at Udayagiri from the Missionaries of Charity Brothers. Corresponding to its functioning, it was named Maria Vidya Nivas. Until then the students had been residing in various communities which caused undue inconvenience to their study programme as well as to their formation. As presumed, the enterprise proved beneficial to student candidates and Sisters. Maria Vidya Nivas functioned as a sub-community of Maria Niketan of Bogadi until it was canonically erected as a Community, on December 13, 2001 by Sr Jyothi Fernandes, Provincial Superior of Mysore Province.
Due to increase in number of student candidates, a first floor was added to the existing building that now serves as a dormitory. Fr Edwin Colaco OFM Cap blessed it on October 6, 1999. In order to procure sufficient space for study, a new building was constructed in the vacant site adjacent to the Convent. Fr Bernard Rodrigues SVD, parish priest of the church of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, Rajeev Nagar, blessed it and Sr Leena Mascarenhas, the Provincial Superior of Mysore Province inaugurated it on February 9, 2006.
The house has been fulfilling its mandate devotedly. One hundred and thirty one student candidates have passed the portals of MVN from 1994 to 2013 to the next stage of formation. Many a well known study institution such as St Philomena College, Marimallappa College, Mahajana College, Teresian College, and Jagadhamba Pre-Primary Teachers’ Training Centre, Mysore has been their alma mater for two years. Most of the candidates excelled in extra-curricular activities, proofs of which are displayed inside the showcases of Maria Vidya Nivas.
The students alongside their academic curricula reach out to inmates at Missionaries of Charity Brothers and Home for the Aged at Gandhinagar. The centre for destitutes managed by the Missionaries of Charity Brothers offers ample opportunity to the young minds to remain rooted in the life-giving work of their Master whom they intend to choose and follow. On weekends and holidays the students visit neighbouring families and the homes for the aged in the vicinity. They also participate actively in the liturgical and apostolic activities of the parish church. Catechizing, family visits and prison ministry are regular exercises of the Sisters of the Maria Vidya Nivas Community.
From June 1, 2013 the student candidates have been shifted to Deepanjali for education. The Chetana Counselling Centre which was in a rented house (2010-2013) at Karunapura near FTS Circle, Mysore was shifted to Maria Vidya Nivas. Sr Olinda Sequeira carries on the Counselling activity and Sr Clotty Olivera functions from here as Coordinator of Ursuline Franciscan Lay Association.
