Diocese: Aizawl
Pioneers: Sisters Mary Rego and Veera D’Costa
The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters have been serving in three interior regions of Mizoram, namely, Serchhip, Chhingchhip and Lunglei for twenty years. Matters related to school administration, necessitated that they visit Aizawl frequently. During those visits, for their stay, they had to resort to other religious houses or the parish house. Hence, the need for a house of the Congregation was felt acutely. Providence worked for them unexpectedly. In 1995, Bishop Denzil D’Souza of Silchar Diocese invited the Sisters to open a convent in St Mary parish, Aizawl in view of assisting in the newly established diocesan school as well as facilitating pastoral work of the parish.
Sr Florine Pinto from Dimapur community arrived at Aizawl and administered the school for a month until Sisters Mary Rego and Veera D’Costa arrived at the place as community members on June 5, 1995. The Sisters did not have a residence of their own at their arrival; they were put up with the Bethany Sisters at Mary Mount School, Tlangnum. Up to date the Sisters have not found a place of their own! Currently, they reside in the ground floor of the school building. The inconveniences they endure seem worthwhile when weighed with the transit the residence provides not merely for the Sisters of the Congregation, but also for the religious of other congregations.
Hectic life of the city of Aizawl makes it impossible for people to gather as a community for faith-related programmes and activities. In such circumstances, the Sisters resort to house visiting, this has enabled them to bring children together for the spiritual exercises such as leading the liturgy on Saturday during the Eucharistic Celebration for children. Children are initiated to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and to visit the Blessed Sacrament before and after their class. The Catholic children accompany the Sisters for spiritual exercises such as Rosary and prayers in families, visits to the sick in houses and hospitals, and prayer with various groups in the church like youth, women, and children. They also take part in gatherings and meetings of Women’s Guild.
The Sisters attempt to impart quality education to students along with imparting values of the Gospel. By way of visits to families of children, the Sisters obtain first-hand information regarding the existential situation of their families; they correspond to their academic, spiritual and material needs accordingly. During their visits to families, the Sisters address issues related to substance abuse, alcoholism, health and hygiene. Since 2006, the Sisters have involved themselves in prison ministry. One Sister, along with the diocesan team of prison ministry works for the welfare of prisoners.
