Mother of Mercy Convent, Kirem

When Rev Fr Basil A DSouza was the parish priest of Kirem and the correspondent of the parochial school and the college, he was looking for the religious sisters to replace the retiring headmaster. This news was heard by Sr Devota and Sr Bertha in Kinnigoli who contacted Superior General Mother Macrina for a new avenue of spreading of God’s compassionate love through education. After an agreement between the foresaid officials Mother Macrina sent Sr Noreen as headmistress of Pompei higher primary school, Talipady accompanied by Sr Regis on 1st June 1967. Initially both Sr Noreen and Sr Regis daily walked from Maryvale Convent and went to teach in the school. Later on they were housed in Maggu Bai’s House (parishner) The Parish Priest requested Maggu bai on behalf of the Sisters for her 3 acres of land which had been leased to Mr Gasper Fernades. That was agreed upon and it was offered by a gift deed to the Congregation represented by the Superior General. The Parish priest created a vacancy for another Sister and Sr Angelica was brought on transfer. As the number required for a community was complete, the canonical erection of the community was done in Maggu Bai’s house with a prayer conducted by Mother Verena, the Procurator General. Sr Noreen was installed as the first superior of the community.

After two years Mother Macrina handed over the plan for the convent building to Sr Noreen. On 29^th April 1970 the Bishop of Mangalore Rt Rev Basil S D’souza blessed and inaugurated the new house of Mother of Mercy Convent.

Together with their educational apostolate, the Sisters were very much interested in pastoral work i.e., animating the people for liturgy in the church, keeping things ready for daily Eucharist, singing in the church Choir, visiting the sick and the aged, the bereaving families of the parish and promoting vocations.

As Maggu Bai and Fr Maurice Pinto was advancing with age, they were eager to donate their remaking land around 10 acres, to the Bethany Congregation, which was earlier leased to Mr Eliah , Mr Charles, Mr Paul and Jilly at different times .The first claim for land was from Mr Gasper Fernandes and as soon as this brought to the knowledge of Fr Maurice Pinto he transferred the power of attorney from Mr Charles and Ms Jilly at different periods. Another hassle was from Mr Antony Fernandes of a different variety who claimed a thoroughfare through Maggu Bai’s property disputes. All the adversities borne by the pioneers of this community,  Sr Noreen in particular, minding not the fatigue, all for the love of Bethany are worth recording into annals of Bethany Congregation .

Maggu Bai expired when Sr Emilda was the superior of the community .She took care of her very well. Few years after the death of Maggu Bai the house was renovated and is now made use of the affiliates of ‘Come and See’ formation programme, it is named as Bethany Home. Apostolates  of the community is teaching in the school, pastoral activity, extraordinary ministers for distributing Holy Communion ,teaching catechism, Marian sodality and Alter Boy’s ,preparing the first communicants , SCC meeting, visiting the sick and elderly, attending the funeral ceremonies  and visiting their families , taking care of the senior citizens in Arnold Nivas. Through our mission we have built up good relationship with Parish Priest and Parishners.

Pioneer   Superior : Sr  Noreen BS 
Pioneer   Members: Sr M Regis BS, Sr M Angelica BS