Diocese: Varanasi

Pioneers: Sisters Cynthia Pashan, Benedicta Tellis and Roshni Tirkey

Ledhupur, a township in the suburbs of Gazipur, receives its significance from the seat of Hindu religion – Varanasi and from the seat of Buddhism – Sarnath. Despite the impact of Varanasi and Sarnath, Ledhupur remains underdeveloped in all aspects. People of Ledhupur are daily wage earners by means of manual labour in agricultural plots and industrial belts. Their struggles for livelihood have brought them to realize the significance of education, if not to themselves, at least for their children. Hence the Diocese of Varanasi, under the vision of Bishop Patrick D’Souza put up St John School in 2007.

When the St Ann Sisters had to pull out of the School for reasons known to them alone, Bishop Raphy Manjely of Varanasi invited the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to Ledhupur. In response to the invitation, the Provincial team studied the situation and sent Sisters Cynthia Pashan, Benedicta Tellis and Roshni Tirkey to Ledhupur as pioneers on March 31, 2010. A well-furnished house was given to the Sisters for residence which was inaugurated on the same day. 

At the inauguration, Bishop Raphy underlined the significance of the presence of the Sisters in Ledhupur; he invited them to be true representatives of Christ and assured them his support in their mission. Sr Alice Pinto, the Provincial Superior, assured him on behalf of the Sisters residing at St John Convent that they would strive to fulfil the missionary demands placed on them. She also offered special thanks to Fr Peter Colaco for his wholehearted cooperation and support to the Sisters. Several Fathers and Sisters from the neighbouring parishes and convents were present at the inauguration of the convent building.

The Sisters are involved actively in the ministry of education. In the words of the principal of the School, the presence of the Sisters has brought vibrancy in the School. The Sisters also reach out to slow-learning children in the evening hours. Not much could be done at Ledhupur in pastoral apostolate as the parish church is three kilometres away from the convent and the number of Catholics is meagre. The Sisters carry on the teaching apostolate efficiently and effectively. However, their valuable and productive presence ought to be felt in the highways and byways of Ledhupur where they are needed most.