Sacred Heart Convent, Neerude

Sacred Heart convent is located in St. Roque parish at Neerude. It is about 35 km from Mangalore via Mudu Farrar route to Kinnigoli. Rev Fr LVM Fernandes who build the church of Neerude had a great desire to get Bethany sisters to Neerude. He approached the superior general many times but in vain. He left Neerude in 1968 to Kinnigoli church and Rev Fr Raymond C Moras took over as the parish priest of Neerude. He too continued to request rev. mother Macrina to open a convent in order to educate the children of the poorer classes and to engage in pastoral apostolate. His request was finally heeded. On 12th July 1969 Rev. Mother Macrina summoned Sr. Helen Mary, Sr. Marisa and Sr Avita with their personal belongings to Bethany mother house. Their minds were prepared and encouraged to take up their new mission at Neerude. The following day Sunday morning after the Eucharistic celebration Rev. Mother Macrina, the Superior General, Mother Verana, the Procurator general left by car along with the three sisters and the aid Anna Kutty.

The parish priest and the prisoners after the Sunday mass warmly welcomed the sisters. After lunch in the Parochial house they were taken to a rented house which was 1 km away from the church. The house belongs to Mr. and Mrs Josphine Lobo (parents of Rev Eugine Lobe SJ) who were then residing in Mumbai leaving their children under the care Of Benny bai, Mrs Josphine’s sister.

On 14th July the school re opened after Monsoon holidays and Sr Helen Mary and Sr Avita joined St Francis Xavier higher primary school. The headmaster Mr John Mendonca assigned them with higher classes. They were warmly welcomed by the staff and the students.sr Marisa was at home giving medicines to the sick an also teaching tailoring to the poor girls. Their services were well appreciated by the people.

Neerude being a rural area lacked conveyance the roads were very rugged. When the sisters came to Neerude Mr Joseph who was known as “shabby master” had a car carrying milk to the Mangalore, the sisters were given a lift when they needed. Mr. Avil D Souza helped them to get fish and vegetables from Kinnigoli.  In 1970 the parish priest with the consent of the parishioners donated one acre of land close to the church cemetery to the sisters. On 29th July 1970 the foundation stone of Sacred Heart Neerude was blessed by Rev Fr Raymond C Moras and laid by Rev. Mother Macrina. The convent building was completed by the end of two years of their living there and it was blessed by the Bishop of Mangalore on 24th March 1971. Rev Mother Macrina inaugurated the building. Till then Mrs Josphine Lobo, familiarly known as ‘Pina Bai’ had accommodated the sisters lovingly in her house. St6he increase in the strength of students in the school needed more hands in the community.  Sr Lucy the second year Novice joined the teaching service in the school. Then Sr Flavia joined the community in the third year. Sr Helen Mary was ill disposed and asked for a change and was replaced by Sr Ima who took over the baton from her to lead the community from 1st June 1972. Apart from the teaching apostolate in the parish school the sisters conducted needle work classes, dress making classes for the girls in the parish. As a result of their rapport build with the people and also the encouragement received from the parish priest, Neerude became the cradle of vocations to the Bethany congregation and other religious orders as well. More than 40 sister joined Bethany congregation.

Pioneer   Superior : Sr Helen Mary BS 
Pioneer   Members: Sr M Marisa BS, Sr M Avita BS