Diocese: Mangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Marceline Rodrigues, Elfrida D’Souza, Ida D’Souza and Jane Frances Sequeira
Avila Convent is situated at the Narampady junction. The existence of three religious institutions – a church, a temple and a mosque – within a radius of few metres not only enhances the sanctity of Avila Convent, it also summons those within it for a crucial task of the Church, namely, the inter-religious dialogue. Need for inter-religious dialogue arises due to the fact that the area has frequent upsurges of communal violence. Dialoguing with other religions can help deal effectively with such tensions. Besides the deplorable ethnic reality, the socio-economic reality of Narampady is lamentable as well. As if to add to their misery, the petty plots of land they own are rocky and therefore uncultivable. The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters known for their fundamental option for the marginalized chose such a place for their mission. They arrived at Narampady on May 10, 1966. A house was put up for them in a one-acre plot donated by the parish priest, Fr Frederick Monis.
Having known that education was one of the best means to change any wretched situation, the Sisters took up teaching at Fatima Aided Lower Primary School. The school had been started in 1953 by Fr Michael Noronha and administered by the parish. It had classes I to V, and this has not changed even to date. What is more, it had sections for both Malayalam and Kannada. In 2009 a new building was constructed, which was situated a furlong south of Avila Convent. Under the able administration of Sr Constance D’Souza (1976-1984), Sr Mable D’Souza (1984-1996), Sr Leena Fernandes (1996-2004), Sr Mary Pinto (2010-2013) and Sr Helen D’Souza (2013- ) the school has been imparting quality education even though at the basic level.
Pastoral activities of the parish are accorded equal importance by the Sisters. The church dedicated to St John De Britto came into existence in 1942 when Fr Frank Peris, the parish priest of Our Lady of Dolours church, Bela, bought a piece of land from a Hindu and built a chapel on it. The present building was constructed by Fr Fredrick Monis in 1961. The parish consisting of 234 Catholic families with 1377 Catholics and formed into ten wards has been served by the Sisters in various capacities. Catechizing on Sundays and for reception of sacraments like Communion and Confirmation, animating YCS and Legion of Mary and altar servers, keeping the House of God ready for liturgy and distribution of Communion are some of the activities the Sisters perform at the parish selflessly. They also participate in SCC prayer meetings. A few of the wards have rendered service to the Convent as part of their SCC task.
In addition to their several apostolic activities at the Narampady parish, they serve at Bovikan, a substation of Narampady parish. Given the long distance they had to cover to reach the parish church, those parishioners were unable to attend Sunday services at Narampady. Hence, in 1982 a chapel was built there. On Sundays, one of the Sisters renders her service there for preparation of liturgy, singing, distribution of Communion and catechism. Even the Sisters residing at Avila Convent during their Teachers’ Training Programme, make themselves available to service in this substation. Bovikan celebrated its silver jubilee in 2007.
As empowerment and holistic development of people has been the key objective of the Sisters at Narampady, they have been involving themselves in socio-economic development of people as well. In 2006 they helped the economically backward and illiterate women of the locality to form themselves into self- help groups through which they produced foodstuff like pickles and papads for commercial purpose. They were also introduced to jasmine cultivation. In spite of their hectic schedule and limited human resource, the Sisters regularly visit houses of the sick, aged, families of students etc. They also coach the slow-learning children.
Avila Convent as an L-shaped structure gives the impression of a decrepit primary school. However, it represents total identification with the marginalized of Narampady. Various animators have toiled to maintain the Convent in its present form, especially by undertaking interior furnishing. Sr Prima Rodrigues who succeeded Sr Jane Frances, the first animator of Avila Convent, introduced cultivation of paddy in the vacant plot behind the Convent. Their manual work while proclaiming the dignity of labour, served as a means for self-sufficiency. Sr Sophia D’Souza managed to procure municipality water connection to the convent premises. Sr Mabel worked for obtaining an LPG (cooking gas), repairing the shed, and installing telephone connection to the community and boring a tube well. Sr Jerosa Fernandes undertook repairing the compound wall, interlocking the convent yard, repairing the convent roof, and fencing the boundary. During the tenure of Sr Mary Pinto, the dormitory was converted into fibre partitioned cubicles, kitchen roof was repaired, the bathing rooms and guest room were renovated and plantain trees were planted in view of achieving self-sufficiency.
In spite of its congested state, Avila Convent has been rendering a great service to the Congregation by accommodating Sisters pursuing their Teacher Training studies at Maipady in Kerala. An incident that will go down the annals of Narampady was a road accident in which Sr Leonora was injured beyond any hopes for survival. The disaster had occurred while they were travelling to Mysore to attend the priestly ordination of Sr Suchita’s brother. Belying our fears she recovered after an intense treatment for five months. Commendable lifestyle of the Sisters at school, at the parish, and in an ordinary dwelling has inspired nearly eighty boys and girls from Narampady to choose religious life.