Diocese: Mangalore

Pioneers: Sisters Barbara Franko, Olinda Sequeira, Jyothi Fernandes, Severine Crasta, Emerciana Pereira and fifteen novices

 

‘Somarpann’, a venue designed exclusively for intensive formation, namely novitiate programme of the Sisters of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation was established on January 3, 1983 at Derlakatte, Panir. This venture deserves mentioning the names of at least a few persons for their dedicated labour in its establishment. They are three Superiors General, namely, Sr Mary Agnes Mathias, Sr Ernestine D’Almeida and Sr Reparata D’Souza. These were responsible for: purchasing13.36 acres of land in 1951 where the future novitiate could be located; planning the existence of a novitiate building by laying its foundation stone on August 2, 1979; and realizing the vision by erecting the building on January 3, 1983 respectively. More persons were involved in working out the enterprise: Sr Gertrude D’Sa in the supervision of the construction; Bishop Basil D’Souza and Fr Edwin Pinto in financially supporting the project; Sisters Dulcine Furtado, Leira Alva and Loira Veigas in caring for the property for thirty two years while residing at ‘Lourdes Cottage’ within the Somarpann campus, and Sisters from St Joseph Panir and the Shanthi Farm in extending their wholehearted service in all possible ways and at all times.

The house was canonically erected on February 2, 1983; the Blessed Sacrament was installed in the chapel of the novitiate building on the same day. The tone of the novitiate house was set at the inaugural Eucharistic celebration. Fr Victor Piovesan in his homily unfolded the significance of a novitiate house as being ‘the power house of the Congregation which guides the novices to be transformed into Christ continuously’. In keeping with this objective, Sisters Olinda Sequeira, Jyothi Fernandes, and Aurea D’Souza guided the novices of the Congregation until the house was set aside as the novitiate house of the Mangalore Province in 1998. Thereafter, Sisters Severine Crasta and Clara Menezes along with their assistants have guided the novices especially of the Mangalore Province. Sr Gracy Mathias continues the work of formation of the novices at present. As the novitiate house has been attached with a community of Sisters, an animator was a need of the house from the very beginning. This need has been taken care by Sisters Barbara Franko, Millicent Pinto, Carmelita Monteiro, Benjamin D’Souza, Florine Vas, Nancy Ferrao, Benedicta Correa, Bibiana Noronha, Clara Menezes, Shellin Rodrigues, Rita Vas, and at present by Sr Precilla Lobo.

When the plot was purchased in 1951, a tiny house existed in it. The Sisters named it ‘Lourdes Cottage’ even though for convenience’ sake, they called it ‘Bungalow’. Sisters Dulcine, Leera, and Loira (1951-1983) in successive years, accompanied by novices during night hours, lived singly in the house in order to maintain the property. The latter also was a teacher at St Joseph School at Panir. Sometimes postulants of the Congregation would live in the house for shorter periods. Alongside teaching in the school, the Sisters have undertaken the task of planting pineapple and coconut saplings and watered them by drawing water from the well.

Somarpann is meant to be a house for formation. In spite of this fact, both novices and Sisters have been involving themselves actively in socio-pastoral activities. In fact, the novices have been socio-pastorally active right from the inception of Somarpann. They have been teaching catechism at the parish church. In the past years they have extended their service for liturgical preparation and catechism at two substations of the parish, namely, Bola and Ghatikudru. At present they extend their service in Mudipu parish On occasions of solemnities, they have been helping in the liturgy at Ammembal parish and Nityadhar parish. On Fridays they guide people to pray during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Mother of Mercy parish, Panir. Along with Sisters of the community, they participate in SCC prayer meetings of the wards. Visiting families of surrounding area has been a specific feature of the novitiate; this aspect offers them experience of the serrated reality common to a large number of people in India. To underscore this factor, one batch was sent to slums in Bijapur in 1989 for one month and in the consecutive years, they have been sent to Hangal. The novices are privileged to have this pastoral and social exposure as it is an integral part of novitiate formation.

The novitiate building is a huge and compact structure compared to several other houses of the Congregation. Besides, it could claim a tranquil surrounding. Hence the house was utilized for several programmes of the Congregation. The Superiors General and their teams utilized a part of the top floor of the building for thirteen years, i.e., 1992-2005. It may be noted that during this period they have not only administered the Congregation but performed the responsibility with ease. It was edifying to see the team commuting with public transport and the Councillors General living in a dormitory within the privacy of curtains. Thus they were true models to novices and Sisters alike. The house needed some renovations at the time. The roof of the chapel and the terrace of the house were repaired. The cemented terrace was replaced with tile roof. A multipurpose hall was constructed on top of the classrooms. The novices were unsparing in their service during several programmes of the Generalate arranged in the house. In 2010 Sr Lenita D’Souza, Provincial Superior of Mangalore Province converted the ground floor of the house into quarters for the elderly Sisters of the Province. Two dormitories were converted into six self-contained rooms. Currently, eight Sisters benefit from this scheme. The presence of the elderly in the novitiate is a blessing. The youngsters draw deeply from the riches of their faith, commitment, selfless toil, and simplicity. The elderly in turn wilfully recall their days of youth. Sisters Speciosa Alvares, Crispine Braggs, Anicetus D’Souza, Servella Rodrigues and Ninian Therese were pioneers to this renovated block of the house. Somarpann has hosted Inter-Province Meeting of the novices in 2003 and 2004.

The construction of a retaining wall and a compound wall, installing solar system, portioning the dormitory into cells with fibre sheets, and painting the house have been other works undertaken to maintain and equip the house. The Generalate has always been generous to extend the monetary help towards these requirements of the novitiate. Celebrations have been a part of Somarpann. The temporary profession is an annual feature. On May 1, 1983 it was the first ever such event in the house. Six novices professed their vows on that day. In the same year, on May 8, Sr Gertrude D’Sa who was supervising the construction of the house celebrated the silver jubilee of her religious profession. Sr Simplicia D’Souza, a longstanding member and maternal figure in the house celebrated her golden jubilee on April 18, 2001. On February 2, 2007, the Convent celebrated its silver jubilee. Sr Rose Marie celebrated her seventy-fifth birth anniversary on August 15, 2010. A factor to be noted in this regard is the utilization of the expertise of the novices by the Province and the Congregation in its various programmes. The house is maintained by Nympha Sadan, Home for Senior Citizens at Bolar; it is administered by Mangalore Province. The Somarpann community is indebted to Sisters rendering their service at Nympha Sadan.

Study, spiritual exercises, community exercises, family visits, participating in funeral services of Sisters at Holy Rosary Convent, brief outings, working hours on Thursdays, these and more activities keep a novice engrossed and give a feeling that the two years are like a single day. Memorable time spent at Somarpann – in the house, in the compound, in the garden, in apostolate outside the house, – all this is cherished by each individual who has lived at Somarpann be it for her formation or her apostolic work. Somarpann continues to be a power house that not only transforms its members into Christ but also enables them to be agents of transformation in the world.