Diocese: Bangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Fridesville Menezes, Gemma Pinto and Carmine D’Souza
Maria Nilaya, the abode of our Heavenly Mother, was started at the initiative of the Superior General Sr Genevieve Castelino (purchasing the land), Sr Gemma Pinto (utilizing the land for cultivation), Sr Fridesville Menezes (tailoring and pastoral apostolate) and Sr Carmine D’Souza (initiating the medical apostolate). This enterprise spread through a period of twenty-one years, namely, 1967 to 1988. Maria Nilaya is situated in Gollarahatti. The hamlet derives its name from the livestock the people reared for their livelihood. As such, the region was filthy and therefore unhygienic. Under- development or absence of growth has been the characteristic feature of the village. The Sisters endeavoured to realize holistic development of the locality. They paid attention to their physical health; they attempted to enable the women to be economically self-sufficient, they guided them spiritually – the shrine of our Mother installed at Maria Nilaya in 1988 evidences this fact. They were not merely preachers; they were also ‘doers’ – by means of coconut plantation, sericulture and agriculture within the convent premises; they encouraged the people to adopt alternative means of livelihood.
By 1989, the face of Gollarahatti had been changing. To indicate the change, the area was christened Gnanbharathi Layout, all thanks to the good things that happened to the people because of the presence of the Sisters.
Quite a few significant events have occurred at Maria Nilaya in recent past. The house was canonically erected on June 1, 1996. A new convent building was inaugurated and blessed on September 19, 2006. The Gnanabodhini High School shifted to the premises of Maria Nilaya in 1995 celebrated its silver jubilee on December 15, 2010. An auditorium was added to the existing building of the High School on June 4, 2007.
The Sisters are involved in the formation of faith of people. The vicinity of our Gnanabodhini High School had been a secluded area, with very few houses and very little access of transport. The existence of the school has brought a lot of difference. Human population is on the increase and it benefits from the education imparted in the school.
Occasionally and on weekends, the Sisters make it a point to visit the families of the students, also the sick, aged and distressed, and pray with them and for them. Praying of the Rosary and Novenas and prayers are held at the Shrine of Our Lady in which many people of the neighbourhood and the nearby villages participate irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, social status and language. People are encouraged and they do make time to come and pray at the Shrine. Sisters are involved in teaching catechism at St Francis of Assisi church which was established in 2002.
