Holy Family Convent, Nirkan

The Canonical Erection ceremony of the community was held on 28th June 1970 at 4.15 p.m. The Holy Mass was celebrated at 3.15 p m attended by the Parishioners. After Mass Very Rev Fr Basil D’Souza inaugurated the “HOLY FAMILY CONVENT – NIRKAN”, in the presence of the whole congregation gathered around. Then His Lordship proceeded to bless the convent.

First Superior – Sr Doreen 28.06.1970-1974, Pioneer Sisters: Sr Doreen, Sr Avina and Sr Celsa

 The parish priest along with all the Parishioners welcomed the sisters. They thanked the Superior General for having taken up the responsibility of the Parish in sending the sisters to teach in the school and to engage in Pastoral Apostolate of the Parish. 

 The sisters were teaching catechism on Sundays, incharge of pious associations such as Altar boys, Marian Sodality, SVP, ICYM, YCS, Catholic Sabha, preparing children for the First Communion and Confirmation, preparing Sunday liturgy, altar decoration, cleaning the altar linens, distributing communion on Sundays, participating in the SCC prayers in the wards, visiting the families and students, helping families and students whenever there was a need. Sisters rendered best service through pastoral & social ministries, it is continued even now.

Mile Stones:

The congregational celebration on Feb 22nd 2009 was held at Holy Family Convent, Nirkan as Sr Cresentia stepped into centenary year of her life. The concelebration of Holy Eucharist was by the Rev Fr Denis Moras Prabhu along with other priests. The Superior General Sr Jyothi, the Provincial Superior Sr Inviolatha and a good number of sisters attended the celebration.

On 25th Feb 2010 Sr Cresentia celebrated her birth centenary. Provincial Superior, the councillors & her family members were present. The Holy Eucharist at 7 pm was celebrated by Fr Thomas Baretto OCD. A short felicitation programme was followed by Dinner.

Sr Cresentia celebrated her Platinum Jubilee of Religious life on 25th April 2011. Holy Eucharist was celebrated on 5.30 pm in the church followed by a felicitation program & an agape at our convent. Sr Wilberta, the Superior General &Sr Mariette Provincial Superior & Parishioners were also present for the same.

 August 25th 2012 was the saddest day in the history of Nirkan Community because it lost one of the eldest members of the congregation. Sr Cresentia passed away at the age of 103. She breathed her last in Badyar Hospital & her mortals were brought to the community at 8 am by Sr Mariette on the 26th at 2 pm Sr Wilberta & the councillors, Sr Mariette & her councillors & good number of priests & Bethany sisters were present for the Funeral. Her family members were also present for the same.

In the year 2019 Sr Usha was installed as the Superior of the Convent. Sr Suma, Sr Ronaldine were the members of the community. Sr Claudina joined their band in Jan 2022. In the year 2022, June 1, Sr Usha was transferred to Regina Coeli, Convent Ranipura as its superior. 

Sr Celine Vas took over the baton on May 31, 2022 from Sr Usha as the Superior of Holy Family Convent, Nirkan. Sr Ronaldine BS, Sr Claudina BS, Sr Celine Josephine and Sr Severine Fernandes formed the Community.

Sr Cicilia Mendonca the Provincial came on November 2, 2022 an annual Visitation Programme. She met everyone personally and left the place by 6.30 pm.

On Dec 13, 2022 Sr Roshel and Sr Sharon Preeti visited us to check the accounts and records of our Community. We were asked to renew the RTC.

Our dear Founder’s Birth Centenary was celebrated on Jan 23, 2023 at the Convent Chapel with Eucharistic celebration offered by Fr Leo Lobo. In the evening BLA members were invited to revive it after the gap of three years.  Out of the 22 invited members 18 showed up. Glowing floral, verbal and singing tribute was payed to the Founder. Members felt happy to belong to Bethany Family. Members clarified their confusions through the question answer session. Snacks were served at the end of the session. One of the main features of question answer session was that they came to know what happens to the salary of the teacher sisters. They thought that money goes to the individual sisters and they use it as they like for their personal needs or for their family. When they heard that as per our Evangelical Counsels we do not own money, property etc., it is pooled to the common fund and used as per the need and will of our major superiors they felt happy and contented. They appreciated our missionary activities and our education ministry in rural areas. Sr Celine Vas the BLA animator took trouble to visit most of the houses and spoke about the Founder and Bethany and the members responded positively.

Nov 6, 2023 was a great day for Holy Family Convent as our dear Superior General Sr Rose Celine came on a Canonical Visitation along with Sr Sandhya the General Councilor.Having met the sisters individually she conducted effective  community meeting by which she got involved every sister and the apostolate of the community. She was happy to meet the BLA members and appreciated their presence. She enjoyed the photo session. She spent half day in visiting sisters houses in the Parish. At noon she returned to Bendur.

Feb 17, 2024 was a disturbing day for us sisters as the Vice President forcefully brought the JCB into our compound to shift the Parish timber through our compound without prior information. As timber was being shifted the PP Fr Leo came and was talking to the Vice President Vincent Bennis and Alphonse Fernandes said ‘I came in the morning and saw this as the feasible way to shift our timber’. It was like mocking the superior without informing her they can do anything inside the Convent Compound.

On Feb 19, 2024 Srs Severine Fernandes and Celine Vas joined the Bantval Deanery people to submit the memorandum at BC Road Thashildar’s office against the atrocities committed towards Jerosa School, Mangalore.

On April 11, 2024 Nirkan BLA Unit went for a pilgrimage to Founder’s Cottage, spiritual Centre in the Mother House and Founder’s tomb at Bendur Church. Sr Molly BS screened a documentary film on SD RFC Mascarenhas, Bethany and its service to the society.

July 29, 2024 was a big day for BLA members. Nine members made their commitment. Days meal was prepared and brought by the members from their home. Dining together added to the festive joy.

Parish Priest Rev Fr Leo William Lobo, an enthusiastic priest guides and directs every activity of the parish and cordial to the sisters of the Convent. He celebrates every Monday Eucharist in the Convent Chapel.

At present there is only one sister teaching in the school and other three sisters are elderly who are engaged in the Pastoral Ministry of the church.

Pioneer   Superior : Sr Doreen BS 
Pioneer   Members: Sr M Avina BS, Sr M Celsa BS