Diocese: Bongaigaon

Pioneers: Sisters Felicita D’Souza and Shanthi D’Souza

Nympha Nilaya at Simlaguri, a town of Bongaigaon in Assam, is a breakthrough when seen from the perspective of the apostolic activities of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters in North- East India. An undeniable fact is that the lush green valley of Bongaigaon, which each Sister travelling to the North-East ought to pass through, beckons to halt for a while and savour its natural magnificence. The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters have halted at Bongaigaon with a specific reason of catering to the ‘little ones’, a phrase referred to ‘children’ in the gospels. The ‘children at risk’ – street children and rag pickers – are the focus of attention of the Sisters at Bongaigaon. Compared to the established ministries of the Sisters in other places, the ministry at Bongaigaon is unquestionably a breakthrough.

Sisters Felicita and Shanthi were pioneers at Nympha Nilaya. At their arrival at Bongaigaon on August 10, 2009, they were to stay in a temporary residence provided by the Province. The house was inaugurated by Sr Mary CJ, Provincial Superior and blessed by Bishop Thomas Pulloppillill of Bongaigaon Diocese. However, as the construction was incomplete, the Sisters sought shelter at Bhawlaguri Home Science Centre of the Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth (SCN). Sr Felicita supervised the construction of the building commuting to and from Bongaigaon on a daily basis. Sr Justin Miranda, a member of St Angela Convent, Gauripur, assisted a great deal in supervising the construction work at Simlaguri. At its completion, Sisters Felicita D’Souza and Shanthi D’Souza began residing at Nimpha Nilaya on October 11, 2009. Fr Varghese Prakuzhy MSFS, the parish priest and the assistant parish priest Fr Anselam Lakra of Bhawlaguri St Albert church, celebrated the first Eucharist at Nympha Nilaya to mark the occasion. In subsequent years, the Sisters have further equipped the four- roomed structure with an additional room, kitchen and toilet. A new construction has been initiated in a six bigha (four bigha is equal to one acre) plot which includes the road, offered by the diocese to the Sisters in view of carrying out their ministry.

Amazingly the Sisters carry on a different sort of ministry at Bongaigaon, which the name of the Convent –  Nympha Nilaya elucidates. Nympha Nilaya, is a reference to the first Superior of the Congregation, Mother Nympha Fernandez. As if by coincidence, the apostolate chosen by the Sisters of Nympha Nilaya – catering to ‘children at risk’ – is linked closely to the work Mother Nympha had carried on at the inception of the Congregation. The ‘Second Book of Proceedings’, the earliest available historical document of the Congregation, records vividly her work among the ‘little ones’. In view of drawing inspiration from the content of the text, it seems useful to note it down in detail. It elucidates: “In the beginning of March our Superioress, Rev. Mother Nympha undertook a very beautiful and at the same time a painful task of catechising small children at the Bunder; she goes there several times a week in the evening. It is difficult to gather them; so Mother now and then takes some eatables to coax them and come. They are gathered in the home of a very pious person Alex Lobo by name, some near relation of our Mother”. While this text reports a unique mission of a founding member of the Congregation, it also recounts the means employed in order to achieve a desired task.

Bearing in mind the task lying ahead of them – catering to ‘children at risk’ – the Sisters started visiting railway stations and slums in and around Bongaigoan. They detected beneficiaries of their good work. They also made connections with railway authorities, railway police and local leaders whose assistance is a precondition to their ministry. In 2011, with the help of the Railway Employees’ Union they obtained a room – a railway godown in fact – opposite to the Railway Station. Signifying the objective of the project, the room has been named ‘Gyana Jyothi Drop-in Centre’. ‘Children at risk’ ranging between the age group of four and fourteen, benefit from the Centre to read, to write, to sing, to dance... Recreational and counselling opportunities along with literacy provided enable them to reclaim their dignity as Children of God. The Centre has been linked to Snehalaya of Guwahati, a centre for children at risk; it is organized by the Salesian Fathers. The Salesians support the venture of the Sisters a great deal.

Besides catering to children at risk, the Sisters visit families. Majority of the people belong to Rajbangshi tribe; they are non- Christians. The Sisters also coach slow-learners. A challenging and apparently abysmal ministry, yet noble and beautiful in the eyes of God.