Diocese: Belgaum
Pioneers: Sisters Letitia Fernandes, Responsa D’Souza, Anita Pereira, Eliza Pinto, Joanina Patrao and Laureen Vas
Hubli, also called Hubballi possibly meaning a ‘Flowering Creeper’ is situated twenty kilometres away from Dharwad, with which it forms a twin city. As a fast-growing city in the State of Karnataka after Bangalore the capital city, Hubli is the commercial centre and business hub of North Karnataka region. On account of the commerce and business a large number of people are settled in slums. A goodly part of population is settled in rural areas engaging themselves in the cultivation of cotton and peanuts, two major commodities of the region. The region receives somewhat scanty rainfall and its uncertainty causes anxiety to the farmers. In order to address the situation of people in general and those in the depressed condition in particular, the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters were invited to Keshwapur in Hubli. The proximate factor that prompted their arrival to Hubli was their impressive work at Tumrikop. Fatima Convent lies two kilometres away from the city of Hubli.
At their arrival at Hubli on June 1, 1970 Bishop Ignatius Lobo of the Diocese of Belgaum entrusted them with the charge of a group of Fatima Educational Institutes at Hubli. The cluster of schools included Fatima Day High School, St Mary Kannada Primary School, St Mary Kannada Higher Primary School and Tamil Day School. Sr Ernestine D’Almeida, Superior General, chose and sent Sisters Letitia Fernandes, Responsa D’Souza, Anita Pereira, Eliza Pinto, Joanina Patrao and Laureen Vas for the mission. Sr Eliza Pinto was appointed animator and took charge as the head teacher of the St Mary Kannada Higher Primary School, Sisters Letitia Fernandes and Responsa D’Souza were appointed teachers at the Fatima Day High School while Sr Joanina Patrao was chosen to teach in St Mary Kannada Higher Primary School. For their residence they occupied two classrooms of St Mary Kannada Higher Primary School, adjusting everything and everyone within that space. In 1971 Sr Jovita Fernandes took up the charge of the head teacher in St Mary Kannada Higher Primary School.
In December 1970 the Sisters acquired St Michael English Medium School from Mr and Ms George Sibyl D’Mello. As they were preparing themselves to migrate to Canada they requested the Sisters to take over the whole concern which had been their dream child since 1963. The Sisters purchased it for Rs 1, 50,000/- in December 1970. They moved to the newly acquired place in January 1971. They erected a convent there and named it Fatima Convent, the decree for which was issued on March 30, 1971. Gradually the Sisters handed back to the diocese the charge of the Fatima Day High School and Tamil School retaining the administration of both St Mary Primary School and St Mary Higher Primary School. Alongside they concentrated on St Michael School.
The schools are known for their quality education. The teaching staff is equipped with training, refresher courses and seminars. The children are boosted with co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as sports and games, debates, elocution, fine arts, crafts and value education. Along with academic excellence, character formation based on love and service is taken as the maxim of the school. Empowering the pupils to face challenges of the modern world is also an objective of the school. Sr Eulalia Monteiro, head teacher of St Mary School was nominated for ‘Best Teacher’ award at the State level in1986. She retired from teaching in 1997 after seventeen years of service. Her successor, Sr Winny D’Souza added five class rooms to the school building. St Mary School has turned out to be the best Kannada medium school in Hubli Taluk.
To maintain St Michael School abreast with demands of education department, computer education was started in the School. The Rotary Club of Hubli donated five computers to the School; Sr Nirmala Mathias added a few more. She also constructed a separate block for it. She furnished the School with an auditorium, a sump, and a table tennis court. The Rotary Club facilitated clean drinking water to the school by funding for the sinking of a well in the school premises. The School feast day is celebrated every year; the occasion is used to spread the message of Christ to pupils. A playground has been a desideratum of the School; the Sisters have not succeeded in acquiring suitable and adequate land owing to escalating land prices.
St Michael School has some noteworthy events to relate in its history. Sisters Letitia Fernandes, Lilia Rasquina, Marie Terese, Lidwin D’Souza, and Jeneveera Noronha are retired teachers of St Michael High School. They were felicitated duly in a grand celebration organized in their honour by Sr Nirmala Mathias,
Principal of St Michael School. As extension of St Michael School, the Pre-University College was started in Shanthi Nagar with Commerce and Arts streams. Sr Nirmala Mathias performed this responsibility efficiently at the beginning of the College in June 2002.
The Sisters have involved themselves in pastoral and social apostolate right from the beginning of their life at Hubli. They catechize children in the school, prepare them for catechism and moral science exam conducted by the Diocese of Belgaum, and prepare children for the reception of the sacraments. Adult catechism has been a special feature of the pastoral activities of the Sisters. They carry on all other liturgical and pastoral activities in the church as well as in the parish. Women of the parish are trained to undertake sacristy work. They are involved in rectifying inter-caste marriages. By visiting families regularly, they instil in them faith, hope, and love. In answer to a request to assist in pastoral activities at Infant Jesus Church, Shanthi Nagar, the Sisters have extended their services for three years commuting from Fatima Convent until a sub-community was established there on September 1, 1996 with Sisters Beatrice D’Silva, Felix D’Souza, Theresia Serrao of Fatima community as its pioneers. The Community supported the initiative wholeheartedly.
They have been extending their help in social concerns too. They visit Sneha Sadan, Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitutes, and St Vincent de Paul Home for the Aged, and spend quality time with inmates. Prison ministry is undertaken as well. Sr Lilia Rasquina initiated self-help-groups in Hubli. Sr Marie Therese organized Women’s Cell on March 3, 2003 at St Joseph parish church. YSM meetings are conducted regularly at the High School.
As part of refurbishing the house, in August 1988 new toilets and bathing rooms were put up; geysers were fixed as well. A utility block was constructed and inaugurated on July 4, 1990. In 1995-96, the Convent was renovated and whitewashed. Over the years, the convent building as well as the Fatima School building had been cramped for space. Both the structures were demolished part by part in 2007 and new structures were erected in part by April 16, 2009 and again by June 1, 2009.
Mentioning a few events held at Fatima Convent is in place. Sr Joanina Patrao celebrated the golden jubilee of profession Sisters Nonnita Pinto, Eulalia Monteiro, Edilburga Monteiro, Felix D’Souza, Ancilla Pinto, Linet D’Souza, Jeneveera Noronha, Lidwin D’Souza, Helen Pais, Margaret D’Souza, Carmine Lobo, Winnie D’Souza and Florine Vas celebrated the silver jubilee of their religious profession. Sr Joanina who served at Hubli for 33 years took seriously ill on December 8, 2003. Though treated at Lourdes Hospital, Dharwad and then at Fr Muller Hospital, Mangalore she passed away on December 23, 2003 at the Provincialate, Shanthi Dham. A requiem Mass was offered for the repose of her soul by Bishop Bernard Moras at St Joseph Church, Hubli on December 29, 2003. The community remains indebted to her for her life and work at Hubli.
Our Lady of Fatima being the patroness of the Convent, her statue has been installed in front of the Convent. Our Blessed Mother draws everyone, children in particular, towards her to pray and to bask in her loving arms.