The Ursuline Franciscan Congregation was invited to launch into North India by the Order of Friar Minor Capuchins. Responding to the invitation the then Superior General of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation Rev. Mother Ernestine DAlmeida commissioned three members to form a community, at Bareilly in 1977.
The Ursuline Franciscan Congregation was invited to launch into North India by the Order of Friar Minor Capuchins. Responding to the invitation the then Superior General of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation Rev. Mother Ernestine D’Almeida commissioned three members to form a community, at Bareilly in 1977. The Sisters were sheltered in the Hartman Ashram of the OFM Cap.
Accepting the Northern Culture with all its richness and uniqueness and with a future Vision for the growth of the North Mission, it was felt to form North Mission as North Region, then as the Vice Province. The North Vice Province was erected as the North Province on March 10, 2001. Sr. Ancilla Pinto was elected as the Provincial of North Province.
INAUGURATION OF JEEVAN DHARA PROVINCIALATE:
There was a great need of a Provincialate House in Lucknow for the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters of North Province. This dream became a reality only on the 27th of June 2005.
North Province Provincialate House in Lucknow
The Sisters had first come to Lucknow and started living in a rent-free house offered by Mr. Peter Fanthome. A small Convent was then built and Bishop Albert D’Souza blessed Jeevan Dhara Convent on the 24th of July 1993. The Sisters shifted themselves to the new house on the 28th of December 1993. The small convent building was used as the Local Community, Regional House, Vice Provincialate and as Provincialate, till 27th June 2005. Even though the conditions were hard the Sisters’ Spirit to live and serve like one real family did not deteriorate at any stage of their life at this place. The Province had its Novitiate inaugurated in the year 2002 July. Since there was no separate building for the functioning of the Novitiate, a part of Jeevan Dhara School was used as Novitiate till 27th June 2005.
Rt. Rev. Albert D’Souza Bishop of Lucknow and V. Rev. Sr. Doreen D’Souza
A dream is realized when perspiration follows aspiration. Cherished desires bear fruit when needed hands join together to create and to give life and vigor. On the 27th of July 2005 the new building was inaugurated by V. Rev. Sr. Doreen D’Souza the Superior General of UFS and was blessed by Rt. Rev. Albert D’Souza Bishop of Lucknow Diocese.
Making the Christian presence felt in UP is a real challenge. The influence of the Church seems to be vanishing. Many people see our institutions as irrelevant, and cut off from reality of the world. Yet, in the phase of all these calamities there is a deep cry of God’s presence. So, the need of the time seems to be that we be persons who are ‘God Experienced’ and are here to share this ‘God experience’ with the Spiritually Suffering Humanity of the Society Jeevan Dhara Provincialate is a unique monument, which has become a welcome place of worship to every Sister of the Province as well as all the people of good will. The North Province is grateful to God the Almighty for His bountiful graces to them.