Diocese: Vijayawada
Pioneers: Sisters Fridesville Menezes, Pushpa and Sheela Mary
The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters of the Mysore Province set foot in the State of Andhra Pradesh at an invitation from the Pallotine Fathers especially Fr Kishore Babu SAC. They arrived at Konkepudi in Vijayawada on June 7, 2006. The Provincial Superior, Sr Leena Mascarenhas and her team having studied both the context and the scope offered for a fruitful ministry in socio-pastoral and educational areas chose Sisters Fridesville Menezes, Pushpa and Sheela Mary to be the pioneers at Konkepudi. At their arrival in the place, they were welcomed by Fr Michael Kishore Yadala SAC, the Principal of St Vincent Pallotti School, Pedana. The Sisters met the Bishop of Vijayawada, Prakash Mallavarappu, on the same day; he advised them to visit the Pedana5 parish where they had to reside sometime later. The Sisters began residing at Konkepudi in a two room flat allotted to them by the Pallotine Fathers on the first floor of the hostel for boys. They remained there for three years, namely, until November 2009.
The Sisters assumed their responsibility at once. Sisters Pushpa and Sheela Mary began instructing at St Vincent Pallotti School. Sr Pushpa was appointed Vice Principal of the School; in 2010 she took up the responsibility of a Principal. Sisters Arokia T and Veena Cutinha would render their services as teachers in the School. Besides rendering their wholehearted service in the School, the Sisters would involve themselves also in pastoral activities. They assisted in the liturgical and para-liturgical services both in the parish and in villages. Their visits to villages opened the avenues to understand deeply the socio-cultural reality of the place.
The Sisters felt the need to have a house of their own while they resided in the hostel for boys. The Bishop gifted a piece of land to the Sisters within the parish church premises on September 18, 2009. The location afforded easy access to villages that needed spiritual and moral support from the Sisters. The construction of the convent building was started immediately on December 25, 2009; the building was ready on November 24, 2010. Sr Olinda Sequeira, the Provincial Superior, inaugurated the house and Bishop Prakash Mallavarappu of Vijayawada blessed it. The house was named Premanjali; it was canonically erected and Sr Puspha was appointed its first animator. Social apostolate has been given equal importance by the Sisters. Sr Premalatha C a qualified social worker has been coordinating socio-developmental apostolate. In fact, the apostolate took root after her arrival in the place. The Premanjali Social Service Centre under her able coordination organizes literacy programmes for children who have dropped out of school. The empowerment of women is taking a big share. Above all, programmes have been organized for people belonging to SC/ST groups. The centre collaborates with the Vijayawada Diocese Social Service Centre in the Vocational Training.
