Diocese: Mysore
Pioneers: Sisters Jessy D’Souza and Gracilda Dias
Kripanjali came into existence as early as 1995 when two Sisters Jessy D’Souza and Gracilda Dias (1988-1992), and Sisters Mariola Picardo and Philomena T V (1992-95) began commuting on daily basis to Padukote and its surrounding villages, while residing at Shanthipura, Muddanahalli. The key objective of the presence of the Sisters at Padukote, a rather underdeveloped village is faith formation as well as socio-political uplift of people. In 1995, the Sisters Mariola Picardo and Philomena T V resided in the village in a community hall in view of getting a feel of the situation of people. On June 6, 2008 the community of Sisters who were already residing in the new convent built in 2007 was canonically erected. It was named Kripanjali.
The Sisters involved themselves in pastoral activities such as preparing the people for the reception of the sacraments and leading singing during liturgical activities. The apostolate has been carried on to date. In order to empower the people socio- economically, the Sisters chose the technique of conscientization. Currently, they organize training programmes for self-help groups that are formed already; they also organize formal as well as non-formal education activities to children and adults. Currently these programmes are being conducted in two talukas, namely, Hunsur and HD Kote.
Kripanjali does not own a school of its own; the Sisters do not teach in any school either. However, having realized the fact that education is a significant force in socio-economic development, the Sisters coach slow-learning children studying in government school. They encourage every child to complete basic education; in view of this, they admitted children to Open Schools. Recognizing the involvement of SG (Shanthi Gramabhivruddhi Kendra) Kendra in educational activities, it has been selected to evaluate Parihar Bhodane, a government- enabled education programme for fifty schools in Hunsur taluk. Since 2000, the Centre is taking care of the Rural Initiative Programme of the government in ten government administered schools. Their involvement in conjunction with the involvement of people in educational activities has enabled the upgradation of the Padukote Primary School from Primary to Secondary in 2006. Besides, the school building has been reconstructed; the school owns a spacious playground.
The Sisters carry on their pastoral apostolate with commitment. Padukote as a substation came under the jurisdiction of St Mary’s Church, HD Kote, and under St Paul the Hermit Church, Jompanahalli. In 2001, Padukote received a church building. People of other faiths too use the House of Prayer. Currently, Padukote is a substation of St James Church, Shanthipura. The Sisters have been striving for the formation of faith of the people. They teach catechism, prepare children for the reception of the sacraments, accompany the people in liturgical and para-liturgical activities, pray Rosary in families.
Health apostolate is given due importance at Padukote. In 2000 a dispensary was put up in a plot of land offered by the Diocese of Mysore. Fr Patrick Langue and the group of students studying in France have been instrumental in erecting the structure named St Antony Health Centre. Bishop Thomas A Vazhapilly blessed it on May 25, 2003. Several people benefit from the Centre. It offers preventive and promotive measures of health.
A significant aspect of health apostolate of the Sisters at Padukote is the promotion of herbal medicine. The Sisters have trained health workers from sixty villages who promote health of their own village as well of their neighbouring villages. This project has been extended to six years from 2002 to 2009. Each health worker has been fostering herbal garden in his/her home. Exposure programmes are organized in villages regarding herbal health care; they succeed in enlightening people on alternative methods of health care.
Besides the above-noted activities, the Sisters train youth and women in professional carriers such as knitting, tailoring, electricity, repair of electronic gadgets, preparing incense sticks, skills in leadership and awareness in legal aid. A group of committed animators who upgrade their skills regularly undertakes these programmes. These programmes have enabled a good number of youth and women to be self-sufficient economically.
The good work of the Sisters has generated a buzz in and around Padukote. Representatives of several organizations visit the Centre; the novices of the Province spend a substantial amount of time in the villages of Padukote and of course, people from villages have recourse of the Sisters in times of ill-health and of trouble. Being true to the name Kripanjali – ‘place of tender hospitality’ – the Sisters at Padukote strive to be true witnesses to the tender care of our Lord Jesus Christ.
