Diocese: Vasai
Pioneers: Sisters Clara Furtado, Vinutha D’Souza and Luviza D’Souza
A second establishment of the Mangalore Province at Palghar in Maharashtra came into being at the request of Mr Albert D’Souza, Chairman of Aldel Education Trust. The project has been approved by Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai Diocese. Palghar, a city in Thane district of Maharashtra is situated 87 kilometres away from Mumbai. As a growing industrial city, Palghar offers ample scope for educational, social and pastoral apostolate.
The pioneering trio - Sisters Clara Furtado, Vinutha D’Souza and Luviza D’Souza arrived at St John Technical Campus, Palghar on June 8, 2011. The Chairman introduced them to the officials of the Trust on June 29, 2011in a formal programme arranged in their honour. On the same day, their residence St John Convent, an apartment gifted by the Trust, was blessed by Fr Abraham Gomes, parish priest of Our Lady of Nativity church, Palghar. At the occasion, the Sisters were briefed on the object of their presence in the campus as being ‘living witnesses to the values of Christ’. St John Convent was canonically erected on August 15, 2012 by Sr Doreen D’Souza, Superior General. On October 17, 2011 the Blessed Sacrament was installed in the Chapel by Fr Kiran, assistant parish priest.
The Sisters have been designated for following responsibilities at St John College of Engineering and Technology: Sr Clara Furtado, Office Executive, Sr Vinutha and Sr Luviza Junior Office Executives in the exam cell and administration department respectively. In a newly established St John International CBSE School in 2012, Sr Irene Mathias has been appointed Principal and Sr Severine Crasta, the Student Relation Officer. In 2013 Sr Rupin Veigas replaced Sr Clara in the College and Sr Severine Crasta in the community. Sr Kavitha Rani replaced Sr Vinutha and Sr Luviza was designated Office Administrator of Pharmacy and Research department. As part of their responsibility, the Sisters attend meetings at the management level. Besides, they take charge of fifty-two female students who reside at the campus.
The Sisters accord due importance to pastoral apostolate. Their parish church is situated two kilometres away from the Convent. Two Sisters catechize children on Sundays. The animator of the community and head teacher of St John School, are part of the parish pastoral council; they attend monthly meetings of the parish and carry out responsibilities entrusted to them. The community of Sisters is engaged in other pastoral activities like participating in SCC meetings, visiting families, praying with the sick and administering Holy Communion to them. They also join people at praying Rosary and conducting family prayers during the month of October, participate in special Eucharistic celebrations organized during Advent and Lenten season and join the youth and children for Christmas carol singing.
As Palghar is an industrial city, it is not surprisingly abounding in social evils. In order to help alleviate at least some of them, the Sisters collaborate with the Daughters of the Cross. They jointly organize programmes for empowerment of women, education of the girl child, health, and hygiene.
Currently, five Ursuline Franciscan Sisters at Palghar and especially at the campus of St John endeavour to bear witness to Christ by striving to achieve the motto of the Institute, ‘Serving to Educate, Educating to Serve’.