Diocese: Mangalore
Pioneers: Sisters Monica Mascarenhas and Isabel Theodore
The establishment of the Holy Face Convent at Vorkady in 1927 is a remarkable event in the history of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation (Pious Association of St Ursula). This is because to a large extent the fact owes itself to the audacity of its two pioneering members, Sisters Monica and Isabel, both in their late 60’s. They launched into a new region when the Congregation was still in a nascent stage in several respects. This might be seen in their residence, apostolate and means of livelihood.
The first book of History of the Congregation ‘Branch of the Vine Fruit of the Branch’ pp 80-82 expounds their residence as ‘a corner of the old school hall with domestic animals for their company’, their apostolate as catechizing children and brides of the parish, tending the sick with simple medicines, mending clothes at a nominal fee, instructing at the St Joseph Primary School existing since 1898 and administered by the parish, taking care of the House of God, establishing a Children’s Home in order to acquire figures to a St Joseph School languishing for want of number and their means of livelihood as practicing indigenous and even desperate occupations like flower gardening, tailoring, overseeing a tiny textile shop, rearing cows, managing the local branch of post office. This illustration endorses the fact that they executed loyally the description they had furnished of themselves, ‘aspiring ... to do God’s work in the parishes’ while exploring the possibility of launching outside the premises of Rosario Cathedral, at Bolar. Their life witness at Vorkady was so impressive that they secured two candidates already in 1929.
Their commitment in the service of the Kingdom of God was duly appreciated. Benevolence overflowed through benefactors and especially through Fr Denis L Mathias, the parish priest at Vorkady, who was the brother of Mother Mary Agnes Mathias (Superior General 1945-1955). He was a pillar of strength to the Sisters until he left Vorkady in 1933 and even later. The pioneers and those who joined them subsequently were ready to set foot anywhere in any field of activity so far as it contributed to the achieving of their objective of ‘doing God’s work in parishes’. Sr Alicia Suarez took up teaching at St Joseph Aided Upper Primary (AUP) School at Kaliyur which graded up to class IV. Fr Cyprian Coelho had constructed it in 1898 in view of giving voice to the voiceless of Vorkady and its vicinity. The school has been upgraded to Upper Primary, i.e., V-VII in 1995. Ever since the administration of the school by the Sisters in 1935, the school excelled in curricular as well as extracurricular activities. Currently, the School with a history of 115 years has 730 students; they are guided by 24 staff members. The school building was constructed anew and inaugurated in 2010.
In answer to the demand of an English medium school, the Ursuline Franciscan Educational Society began St Joseph English Medium School in 1994. It was renamed St Mary English Medium School in 1996. Having started as a nursery school under the leadership of Sr Florine Vas in 1993-94, the school kept excelling eventually. Its present figure, 562 and the cent percent results in SSLC have been the outcome of the hard work of the Sisters, the head teachers in particular. They are Sr Barbara Franko (1994-1998), Sr Benedicta D’Souza (1998-2004), Sr Juliana Pais (2004-2011) and Sr Leena D’Souza (2011- ). In 2002 the school was upgraded to high school level. Unluckily it has not secured yet permission or recognition from the education department despite endless efforts of the Sisters. Two acres of land has been purchased in 2007, in which a playground has been raised.
In the parish, the Sisters render yeoman service. Its 390 families are divided into fourteen wards. The Sisters participate in SCC prayers of six wards on Sundays. Besides, they catechize, maintain cleanliness of the House of God, guide Legion of Mary, Marian Sodality, YCS, and altar servers. They visit families and pray Rosary there. In addition, they help out at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Miyapadav, constructed by Fr Andrew Rodrigues. A parish with 170 families and 774 Catholics is helped by the Sisters by way of catechizing, helping in liturgy, singing, and animating the Sodality of children. The responsibility was passed over to the Holy Face sub-community residing at St Joseph Orphanage in 2008. Service is rendered also at the Holy Family chapel at Votepadpu started in 1998 by Fr Peter Serrao. Two Sisters catechize on Sunday afternoon, maintain cleanliness and ornamentation of the chapel and assist in liturgy.
The Sisters at Vorkady continue to live in a spirit of self- giving after the example of their pioneers. Sr Mary Pinto has rendered her service as head teacher for a year at ALP School, Kapiri during the year 2009-2010. As Vorkady still remains an underdeveloped region, to alter its abject condition, several measures have been undertaken. In 1993, women were trained in typing and tailoring. Slow-learning students are coached and families of students are visited regularly. Gram Sabha meetings are attended and its benefits are made available to people.
Property litigation seems to be a common curse of the early establishments of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters. Just as in Madanthyar, in Vorkady too, the Sisters had to wrestle with the land problem. As much as 1.92 acre of their land was encroached upon by a neighbour. Starting from Sr Eliza Pinto (1970) through Sr Benjamin D’Souza (1984-1990) to Sr Suchita Sequeira (1990-1995) it proved to be a struggle indeed. Sr Suchita managed to secure a happy settlement. At the guidance of Fr Lawrence Martis, parish priest of Vorkady, she approached Ms Nirmala Baliga, social worker from Manjeshwar and Chandrahasa Shetty, lawyer who helped to resolve the problem. The Sisters reclaimed the 1.92-acre land in 1992 after long 27 years. As construction of an English medium school was proposed in the plot, the opposite party put forth a stay-order due to the fact that they had their house constructed in the encroached 10 cents of the convent property. Having been tired of the long-standing litigation, Sr Hazil D’Souza (1995-2001) decided on a compromise according to which they received 40,000.00 as land value. However, they had to forego a few good mango and jack trees. Thus a curtain was drawn on the festering litigation in 1998.
The successive animators have concentrated on furnishing the convent building. Sr Carmine Lobo (2001-2007) transformed the existing dormitory into cubicles; a guest room, infirmary and a room for the animator were constructed as well. In addition, an open well was sunk and water harvesting was undertaken. Sr Laura Pinto (2008-2009) constructed a pump shed; Fr Apolinaris L Crasta permitted to obtain electricity connection from the pole in the church campus. The present Superior, Sr Leena D’Souza (2009- ), constructed a kitchen, dining hall and a dormitory. She also bored a tube well in 2009. The Convent was equipped with a computer in 2008. Fr Peter Mascarenhas SMM was instrumental in collecting needed finance for the cause from Sr Daphney SRA, Vamanjoor. In view of obtaining self-sufficiency, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, cashew trees and a flower garden have been maintained. The Sisters at Vorkady have been doing well in spite of all odds. Possibly, along with their own commitment, the spirit of Sr Isabella Theodore, the pioneer who was laid to rest at the backyard of the Convent has been guiding them incessantly in all their endeavours.