Diocese: Mangalore

Pioneers: Mother Rose Saldanha and Mother Mary Agnes Mathias

Subsequent to establishing St Ursula Convent at Bolar in 1901 and Holy Face Convent at Vorkady in 1927, the Company of St Ursula had set out to establish a third convent at Bejai in 1931. Bejai was a part of the ecclesiastical territory of the Cathedral parish at Bolar. As such, the members of the Company of St Ursula by way of their special status in the Cathedral parish were functioning as extraordinary ministers of the Sacraments at Bejai. As distance between these two venues was nearly six kilometres, the band of faithful at Bejai had procured a plot from the government as a burial ground and had erected a mortuary chapel in it. From then onwards, they had the privilege to celebrate Sunday Eucharist at that location, officiated by a priest commuting from the Cathedral parish. With the appointment of Fr Sebastian Noronha as resident chaplain on March 22, 1912 by Bishop Paul Perini SJ, the spiritual life of the people began to improve perceptibly. Alongside enhancing the spiritual life of people, Fr Sebastian intended striving towards their holistic growth; hence, he opened Francis Xavier School for boys and 

Lourdes Girls’ Lower Elementary School in 1915. The Company received an invitation in 1939 to assist in this noble task. They taught in the Girls’ School.

On the other hand, the Company had been truly a remnant at that phase; as such, it had been passing through a difficult time. Mother Nympha Fernandez, Superior, had died in 1909; Mother Clotilda Fernandez, her first assistant and next Superior had resigned due to poor health in 1918; Mother Martha Saldanha, the subsequent Superior had died on September 30, 1930. Following this, the charge was on Mother Rose Saldanha, the next Superior. At that juncture, and in a setting where the groundwork for apostolic activities was embarked on already at Bejai, Mother Rose took the firm decision of establishing a third convent at Bejai. Accordingly, the pioneers landed at Bejai on May 31, 1931. They resided in a make-shift shed in the current location of the convent. Their house, St Angela Convent, was canonically erected on October 5, 1935 by Bishop Victor R Fernandes.

The Sisters engaged themselves in educational, pastoral, and social apostolate in the manner their fellow religious had been doing at Bolar and Vorkady. The Lourdes Lower Elementary School in which they were teaching made enough progress over the years so that the School was upgraded to Lourdes Higher Elementary in 1940. Sr Alicia Suarez, head teacher (1944-1959), along with other Sisters placed the School on a solid academic foundation. The Sisters did not restrict themselves to teaching by any means. By reading the signs of the times, they established a technical school in 1951 in order to cater to poor girl children. Needle work, hand and machine embroidery were the main subjects taught at the technical school. A Convent building along with a chapel was planned for the Sisters with the assistence from Fr Francis J M Pinto, parish priest of the St Francis Xavier church, Bejai. The Convent was inaugurated by Bishop Raymond D’Mello of Mangalore Diocese on August 23, 1959. Sr Ernestine D’Almeida, head teacher of Lourdes Higher Primary School, had been a pillar of strength in the venture. As the number of Sisters increased at St Angela Convent due to its diverse ministries, in 1973, with the assistance of Bishop Basil, a new convent was constructed, as may be seen today.

In 1960, the Sisters started St Angela Nursery School in the parlour of the Convent. Sisters Marie Dulcis Braganza, Matilda Cardoza, Irene D’Sa and several others have seen to its establishment and resourceful functioning. Sr Marie Dulcis who spent 38 years at Bejai in three terms, after her retirement from the formal school taught the nursery children until her death on June 14, 2004. As a landmark achievement the Sisters established a high school for girl students on June 8, 1963.  At its establishment, it took pride to be the only high school at Bejai and in its vicinity like Bondel and Derebail in 1960s. Ms Nympha Lobo lent her two rooms to house the children until the school building was ready in 1963. The Sisters of the Congregation of Apostolic Carmel helped in the administration of the School in its initial stage. The School made immense progress in the successive years due to the dedicated service of the head teachers and their collaborators.

The rich legacy of St Angela Convent has been carried forward not as a structure but as a human institution by several efficient animators. Sr Lucy D’Cunha with her two terms as animator has served at Bejai for thirty years (1963-1976, 1981- 1998). In order to address the acute financial crisis, she spared time to prepare wreaths and candles for the First Communicants. She also urged the Sisters to get involved in similar income- yielding activities. She could demand this of them because as a person of prayer and simplicity, she practised first and preached next. She also facilitated diligently the spiritual growth of her Sisters. Sisters Claudia Tauro, Flavia Tauro, Imelda Crasta, Gertrude D’Sa, Leena Rodrigues, Marie Therese, Cynthia Suares, Susheela Sequeira, Lilia Rasquina, Serena D’Souza, Edith Rodrigues, Matilda Cardoza, Mabel D’Souza and Ancilla Pinto have been successive animators of St Angela community; they have contributed their best to build the community at home, in the school, in the parish and in society at large.

At various times and according to the needs of the Sisters of the community, the Convent has been equipped. Some of the provisions include installing solar lights, aqua guard, water heater, and astra ole. In addition, a new kitchen, store room, room for the helper, toilets and three self-contained rooms were constructed in 2005. Timely financial assistance offered by Mr Joseph and Ms Florine D’Souza in this regard is acknowledged gratefully. The City Corporation has furnished the premises of the School and Convent including St Francis Xavier School with interlocks, which gives a decent appearance to the campus. The Sisters have been helped in their spiritual life by the parish priests as well as friars from St Ann Friary, Bejai.

The Lourdes Primary School has catered to all sections of society for sixty years. Sisters Ernestine D’Almeida, Jovita Fernandes, Edith Rodrigues, Celesta D’Souza, Luella D’Souza, and Maureen D’Souza as head teachers of the School have aimed at imparting value-based education. However, the School could not stand the competition offered by the newly emerging English medium schools in the vicinity. The number of students declined and the number of teaching staff declined as well. The School was amalgamated with St Francis Xavier School in 2000 and retained the latter name. Sr Celesta D’Souza was the last teacher among the Sisters teaching in Lourdes Primary School who passed away due to a cardiac arrest on June 29, 2001 at the age  of fifty-six. The name ‘Lourdes’ was shifted to the CBSE School currently known as the Lourdes Central School, founded in 1999.

In the meantime the nursery school started in 1960 at St Angela Convent, had been functioning extremely well. As its number increased to 150 over the years, the School is equipped with a stage, an office room, and paintings on the walls of classrooms with the efforts of Sr Matilda Cardoza. The surroundings of the nursery school is furnished with interlocks. Mr Gerard Abreo and Ms Nicole Abreo, donors of the School inaugurated the newly furnished School on August 13, 2007.

In order to cater to diverse groups in varied ways, a commerce school was started at Bejai on May 13, 1975. Sr Lenita D’Souza served in the School for a year and tried her very best to get the permission from the Government. As there was another such school in the vicinity the permission was denied. Hence the commerce school at Bejai was closed down within a short time after its inception. Sr Lucy D’Souza trained women and girls in tailoring and embroidery. As an efficient and loving craft teacher, she touched many a heart. She also taught the children to pray; she instilled in them virtue of service attainable in practising little things. The St Vincent de Paul Society donated three sewing machines to the tailoring class. As the number of students kept increasing in the tailoring section, a spacious room in the basement of the Convent was allotted for tailoring. Sr Gertrude D’Sa was appointed head teacher of the Lourdes High School in 1964. Through her, the vision of putting up a new building for the high school section was realized in the same year. Fr FJM Pinto and several parishioners assisted her. Children at Lourdes High School excelled academically with distinction. Sisters Patricia Tauro, Claudia Tauro, Nonnita Pinto, Letitia Fernandes, Susheela Sequeira and Leena Rodrigues have administered the School as head teachers over the course of  years. Presently Sr Leena D’Souza is the head teacher. The School was equipped with computers in 2001 donated by Mr Antony Sequeira. Slow-learners are coached in the School itself resulting in good academic performance. The school donates books and uniforms free to all its poor children. The free midday meal was served to the poor students with the help of the benefactors even before the Education Department came out with its own scheme.

A new and pro-poor apostolate was initiated at St Angela in 1999. At the initiative of Sr Susheela Sequeira, head teacher, a boarding house was opened in view of educating the girl children from the rural areas after the example of St Angela Merici. The project started with two children: Grecilda Cutinha of Salethur and Anitha Pais of Nainad. These were accommodated in a small room of the school. As the number of girl students increased, Sr Leena Rodrigues, in charge of the students, proposed to put up a separate home. Her vision was realized through Mr Sidney Pinto who donated Rs 18,00,000/- towards the building and infrastructure; the gift was a tribute to his great-grandparents Dewan Bahadur Aleixo Pinto and Martha Pinto. Its foundation was laid on September 13, 2007 and the building was inaugurated on August 15, 2008; it was christened ‘St Angela Home’. Don Francesco Saverio Bazzoffi and his Associates from Florence, Italy donated Rs 1,00,000/- towards the welfare of the boarders. In 2008 there were 38 girls and the number grew to 56 in 2010.

Apart from the education apostolate, the Sisters carry out pastoral apostolate with zeal. A large parish of 1204 families comprising 5,969 Catholics is served by the Sisters in various capacities. The Sisters are involved in animating SCC prayer meetings in eighteen of the 24 wards. They also take care of YCS, CLC, and YSM, teach catechism in the parish church on Sundays, prepare children for First Holy Communion, and distribute Communion on Sundays for six Masses by taking turns  and on weekdays and feast days for two Masses. The Sisters lead the choir during weekdays and Sunday Masses. The elderly Sisters teach catechism to exceptional cases such as catechumens and students. The Sisters assist in the animation of Jeevan Jyothi camps annually arranged by the deanery and children’s camp organized in the parish for three days during Dasara vacation annually. One of the Sisters animates the social service league, another serves as member in the editorial board of the parish magazine. Besides the Sisters visit families of the parishioners regularly. Every fortnight on Tuesdays they visit the sick of the parish, pray the Rosary with them and spend time sharing in their joys and sorrows.

St Angela Convent is involved in other diverse apostolic activities too. Sr Mabel D’Souza was engaged in prison ministry; she also worked as the woman coordinator at Samanvaya, diocesan centre for Social Work situated at Urva. The Sisters study for BA, BCom, BSc, BSW, MSW, CA, and LLB courses at various educational institutes such as St Aloysius College, St Agnes College, Roshni Nilaya and SDM Law College. Owing to the conducive atmosphere provided by the community, the Sisters fare well in their studies. Sr Dulcine Crasta, for example secured first rank in MSW during the academic year 2003-2004.

A few significant concerns and events must be noted in the history of the Convent. The Convent serves as a transit to Sisters travelling to and from the government Bus Stand at Bejai. The Convent had the opportunity to host the event of perpetual profession of Sisters on April 16, 2010 and April 27, 2011. Sisters Ninian Terese PJ and Gertrude D’Sa celebrated the silver jubilee of their religious profession on May 29, 1981 and May 5, 1983 respectively. Sr Marie Dulcis celebrated her eightieth birthday on November 23, 1995. St Angela Convent celebrated its platinum jubilee on January 26, 2005. St Angela Convent has powerful intercessors in our heavenly Father’s house. They are  Sr Lucy D’Cunha, a member of the community for thirty years who expired on December 8, 1998, Sr Celesta D’Souza, on June 29, 2001, Sr Reparata D’Souza, on September 28, 2003, Sr Marie Dulcis, on June 14, 2004, and Ms Magdalene Pinto, fondly called ‘Magdel Bai’, on November 3, 1998. She had served the Sisters for 65 years as cook or attending to household chores. Her funeral rites were conducted in St Francis Xavier church, Bejai and her mortal remains were interred at the parish cemetery, Bejai.

The presence of the Sisters at Bejai for a period of 83 years has been always relevant because they have been discerning the signs of the times and responding to them appropriately. They have for them the inspiration of St Angela Merici, the patroness of the Convent who motivates them to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ with ever renewed zeal.