Diocese:   Karwar

Pioneers: Sisters Doreen D’Souza, Margaret D’Souza, Nancy Ferrao and Benny Correa

Sirsi or Shirasi, the largest town in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka State, is situated at the heart of the Western Ghats. As a hilly station, its innumerable waterfalls and lush green forest including the cultivation of areca nut and valuable spices such as cardamom, pepper, betel leaves, and vanilla had caused it to be named Kalyanapattana once upon a time.  A large part of the populace of Sirsi and its vicinity, the Siddhis in particular, had not been part of the mainstream. In order to address the social as well pastoral needs of these people, the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters were invited to Sirsi by Bishop William D’Mello of Karwar Diocese. Christa Seva Nilaya was situated one and half kilometres away from the town of Sirsi.

At their arrival on June 1, 1979, the Sisters resided at the catechetical centre of the diocese at Chipgi. They involved themselves in the parochial nursery school and high school and in villages amidst people who needed them for their empowerment. They moved to the new convent building in 1983. Meanwhile the catechetical bureau was shifted to Yellapur and in its stead a Grihini Training Centre was established in the same building. Through the Grihini, the Sisters focused on empowering women, the Siddhis of Yellapur in particular. Various training programmes such as house-keeping, tailoring, culinary art and literacy conducted at the Centre enabled them to come out of the clutches of the oppressive society and be part of the mainstream.

Sr Ursuline Frank, animator (1981-1987) of the Sisters, is remembered at Sirsi for her expertise in farming especially sericulture; she is immortalized also for her simplicity of life. At her transfer to the Bishops’ House at Karwar in 1987, Sr Rosy Noronha was appointed animator. During her tenure, the Sisters extended their socio-pastoral service to Ekkambi, Gadigere and Banvasi substations of the parish. Sr Laveena Lobo was appointed animator in January 1988; she continued to tread the path of simplicity and humanitarianism. Sr Evelyn Pinto, the next successor appointed in 1991, actualized the vision of her predecessors to purchase a plot of land at Sirsi. On December 21, 1991, 14 cents of land was purchased at Nilekani at a cost of Rs 2,10,000/- Sr Alphonsa Fernandes, Councillor General, coordinated the deal.

A new convent building was constructed and it was inaugurated on June 31, 1995. The efforts put in by the Sisters for the construction of the building require to be recorded in history. As the place was located seven kilometres away from the old Convent, they had to commute the distance daily to be at the spot and supervise the work. They were glad to move to their new residence at Nilekani on July 31, 1995. The house provided facilities for the formation of the candidates of Mangalore Province for thirteen years, right from 1996. Sr Jacintha Crasta was the first directress of candidates at Sirsi. Sirsi proved to be a suitable place for the all-round growth of the candidates. Christa Seva Nilaya has contributed towards the well-being of the junior Sisters of Mangalore Province as well.  The junior Sisters of Hubli Zone had to travel to Shanthi Dham for their programmes every month, which was cumbersome. Ever since 2008, Christa Seva Nilaya hosted their programmes such as recollection, juniorate programme and renewal programme. The formation programme of the candidates was shifted to Vorkady in June, 2013 as the Convent at Sirsi now forms a part of the newly-erected Hubli Vice Province.

Sirsi has a new church building since May 28, 1996. The Sisters undertake all responsibilities of the parish church as in other places. They also animate various associations of the parish, attend liturgical celebrations in the wards, visit families regularly, catechize children etc. Two substations of the parish, namely, Sampkand and Hegdekatta are assisted by the Sisters in all liturgical and pastoral activities. The KDES (Karwar Diocese Education Society) has been magnanimous to offer three teaching posts to the Sisters in St Anthony English Medium School. Sisters Irene Mathias, Bibiana Noronha, Syra Veigas, Benedicta D’Souza and Helen Pais were its head teachers since 1988. They have worked towards imparting quality education in the School. On October 8, 1998, the Sisters organized a vocation camp for 22 students of class IX and X from the UFC managed schools at Sirsi and Bhatkal. Sr Dulla D’Souza celebrated the golden jubilee of her religious profession on April 16, 2001. In 2008, a dispensary, Christa Seva Homeopathic Clinic, was opened at Sirsi. Sr Sarita D’Cunha, who held a BHMS in Homeopathy cure, administered it for a year. It was closed down in 2009 as she went for Masters Degree. In 2013 pre nursery has been started and Sr Lucella Coelho takes care of the children along with other Sisters.

In responding to the signs of the times, the Sisters at Sirsi have been exploring, designing, and implementing various ministries. This would continue in the future as the growth of any institution entails going through this process if it has to be relevant to the times.