HISTORY

A new Chapter was opened for the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians when the Little Flower Region gave birth to twin provinces, Mary Immaculate Kolkata and Little Flower Province Bangalore. The Mary Immaculate Province of Kolkata was canonically erected on 9th December 2002. The Province had 64 Sisters at its infancy, but trusting in the power of the Lord the Province marched ahead with conviction to grow better. Every growth has its painful experience so to the Province of Kolkata initiated its various activities with limited capacity. The desire to grow pushed the Province forward.

First Provincial Team: Superior General Sr. Mary Thadavanal installed Sr. Nancy Augustine as the First Provincial of the Province. The members of the provincial Council are:

Growth

The Province is on the process of growth, the number of Sisters have grown from 64 to 83. New apostolates are being taken up by the Province and the vision for each houses are becoming clearer upgrading and improving the functions of the existing centres. Sr. Nancy Augustine the Provincial of Kolkata Province was elected as the Assistant General during the Seventh General Chapter and Mother Elizabeth Packumala was appointed as the second provincial of the Province.

Mission

The main target of the Province through various activities is to proclaim the good news. Every centre carries out the main charism of the Congregation that is the Missionary evangelization. Sisters do regular visit to the villages/families. Every activity is focused on this particular mission that is to spread his message of love.

Missionary Evangelization

All the communities have a great role to play in the Missionary evangelization. The Communities which do not have the opportunity to visit villages do the family visit   and take active participation in the Parish activities, organize various group activities for women , youth and children in their respective areas and the villages, YAC, Mahila Sangh, BCC , Children of Mary are some of the active groups. Sisters conduct catechism classes, prepare the people for sacraments and organize retreats and other prayer activities.

Education

The province has two proceeding schools one in Siliguri, Auxilium Convent School and the other St. Mary’s School at Kudda. The Auxlilium School is on the process of acquiring the N.O.C and affiliation to ICSE. St. Mary’s School Kudda will proceed to standard VII in the scholastic year 2009.  Both these Schools will follow ICSE Syllabus. The province has a preparatory school at Bandel and one at Dhajea. Sisters work in three of the Diocesan schools Dumka and Agiamur in Jharkhand and Ambari in Bagdogra, West Bengal.

Social Apostolate

Dispensary at Agiamur, Jharkhand and Dhajea are functioning well. Many patients are treated in both dispensaries. The Dispensary at Kudda also will be re organized in a short period. A land is purchased in Oodlabari in view of initiating a Dispensary and mobile clinic. Three of the Sisters from the Province are being trained as nurses.

The province has been working for the young at risk; it had a centre in collaboration with Salesians of Don Bosco in Ichapur, Howrah. The province initiated another home in the year 2004 for the same at Baltikuri, Howrah mainly for accommodating senior girls. A new centre was opened for the young at risk in Bandel. The home at Bandel is completely under the administration of the Province.

The province initiated a vocational (tailoring& Embroidary) training centre in Ranchi for Adivasi girls from the villages. A hostel for the college going girls too initiated in the same building. The house is able to accommodate 18 girls for the training and 20 college going girls. The hostel provides a good atmosphere.

Formation

Formation is one of the important areas the province give attention. Senior Sisters, temporary professed, and candidates are taken care. Yearly programmes are organized for each group, besides Sisters are sent outside the congregation to participate in the courses which will enable them to grow spiritually and intellectually.  Initial formation is given much importance. Ferrando Convent, Bandel is where the candidates are brought at first.  The whole community gets involved in the formation one way or other. We have a mixture of candidates from Jharkhand, Chattisgar, Orissa, Meghalaya and Mizoram. One of the Novitiates of the Congregation is at Siliguri under Kolkata Province.

Personnel in the Province

Various Events

Second Provincial

The installation of the Second Provincial of the Province was held on 28 February 2006. Superior General Sr. Mary Thadavanal installed Sr. Elizabeth Packumala as the second provincial of the Province of Kolkata.

Provincial Council

Sr. Lucy Jose was appointed as the councilor for Social Apostolate and she was transferred to Generaltae Guwahati after two years. Sr. Anita Topno was appointed in her place.

Growth and Development under the Second Provincial Administration

A new home for the young at risk was opened in March 2007 at Bandel which is completely under the administration of the Province. The house will accommodate 20 children and take care of their studies.

Superior General and her Council made their visitation to the Province in the month of March 2007, they met the Provincial Council and discussed the matters concerning to the Province.

Auxilium Convent School Siliguri was inaugurated on 11 August 2007 by Mrs. Mani Thapa the Sabhathipathi of Siliguri and Rt.Rev. Bishop Clement blessed the school.

A new convent was opened at Ambari in the Diocese of Bagdogra on 25 March 2008. At present Sisters are running a primary English medium School for the Diocese.

Sisters residing at Dumka got a newly built convent cum hostel on 29March 2008. It was blessed by Rt. Rev. Julius Marandi the Bishop of Dumka Diocese.

The Second Provincial Chapter was held from 07-09 October 2008. Sr. Philomina Mathew was appointed as the moderator of the Chapter

Termination of our presence

Ferrando Bhavan Babumahal was closed on leave Babumahal on 7 July 2006

Our Presence at Pushpa Nivas , Dolda , Jharkhand was terminated on 27 December 2007.

The property at Nudungupra was entrusted to a family to look after, Sisters withdrew from the place in April 2006.

Provincialate:

Provincial Office
MSMHC Provincial House
Ichapur, H.I.T.Road
Howrah – 711 104
West Bengal