Many old people were found living in a starving and neglected condition in their homes around our convent. Since we have neither home, nor personnel to take full care of them, we opened a Day Care Centre for such needy people, in front of our Multipurpose Building, so that we can at least partially redress their grievances. It was Sr. Amal Mary who took the initiative for this new endeavour of the ministry of compassion. About 15 to 20 people come to this Centre every day by about 9 a.m. At noon they are provided lunch, and after taking rest they go back to home. The expenses are met by donations of generous people. destitute women only.
Institution Location: Outside Kerala
In response to the invitation of Mar Antony Padiyara, the Archbishop of Changanassery we opened a convent at Munchirai in the District of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on 13 December 1980. The Archbishop donated the land and built a Home for the poor and the aged called ‘Anpakam’. In the beginning there were both male and female inmates. But because of the rigid rules and regulations of the Govt. in 2019 we had to send away the male members. At present we admit
Anugraha, a non-residential school for special children, was started in 1994 at Perambur in Chennai. It comes under SD Santhome Region, Tamil Nadu. A member of the ‘Sisters of the Destitute Health and Education Service Society’, it is registered under the Tamil Nadu Society Registration Act 1975. It aims at enabling the intellectually challenged children to be self-sufficient, self-confident and worthy members of the family and noble citizens of the larger society. Up to the current year 470 students have been trained at Anugraha. It realizes this goal by imparting basic education to the special children by training them to speak, read and write, and to develop the fine motor skills, giving them different therapies as needed, giving training in table etiquette and daily living skills, social interactions, gardening, stitching, music, dance, drawing, yoga etc. according to the capacity of each individual.
‘Friends for the Needy’ is a Rehabilitation Center for mentally ill women situated by the side of CTH Road at Thirumullaivoyal in Chennai – 62, belonging to SD Santhome Region, Tamil Nadu. Formerly it was functioning under a Trust, headed by Miss Gita, a member of Caritas Secular Institute. On 12 April 2012 this centre was handed over to SD St. Joseph Province by Miss Gita. This Institution is meant for the rehabilitation of psychiatric women patients who are under treatment. Now there are 40 women here. We aim at uplifting them mentally, spiritually and physically. The patients are treated with different kinds of occupational therapy to normalize their mental status, so as to liberate them from the darkness of their mind, bringing them out to a world of light and wellness and enabling them to make amicable relationship with the fellow people. People from all walks of life very generously help this Institution. The Sisters who serve here are also involved in the pastoral ministry of Ambattur Parish as well as family visiting. Sr. Mary Rani and Sr. Lima Rose were the pioneer members of the Community.
SD Sennathur was started in 1986 and before long. Sr. Rose Vadakethakidiyil got employed in the Parish Primary School. Every pupil in the school was coming to school taking their younger ones with them, because there was nobody to take care of them at home when their parents went out for work. It was with a view to solving this problem that we started the Crèche, that is, a Day Care Centre for small babies from one to three years of age. Parents bring the children to Creche in the morning when they go for work and take them back home in the evening. There are Ayahs to take care of the children at the Crèche. We take a small fees from the children to partially meet the expenses for salary, food etc. Children are provided with milk, snacks and noon meals.
St. Alphonsa Home for Children is a free Boarding House for girls, under SD Santhome Region situated at Perumanam, a remote village in Thiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu. It was set up in 2007. It is functioning very actively aiming at the spiritual, intellectual, physical and educational uplift and character formation of poor girls up to 10 years of age. This Institution, with accommodation capacity for 50 girls is a blessing and comfort to the children of far and near villages. Now there are more than 15 children in the Boarding House. Sr. Georgitta, Sr. Mercy Jose and Sr. Tracy were the pioneers in the Community.
A branch house of SD was started at Thandalam in the Distirct of Kancheepuram in Tamilnadu in January 1990, under the patronage of Rev. Fr. Thomas Karikilettu, a well-wisher and benefactor of SD. The purpose of this house was the uplift and development of the poor village folk who were in a very backward condition, quite uncultured and ill literate. According to the guidance and direction of Fr.Thomas we undertook the small dispensary which was being run by the Gonzaga Sisters from Madhurantakam, started a Tailoring class and a Day – crèche. People from the five surrounding villages were the beneficiaries of all this services. The Primary School of the Parish Church was just like a shelter for all the children of the neighboring houses in the absence of their parents who went for their daily living. Instead of books they brought with them only food bowls to take the noon meal that was distributed by the Govt., spending their time under the shady trees in the school premises. In 1997 Sr.Rose Vadakkethakidiyil was appointed in the School as a teacher and in 1999 was promoted as the Headmistress. With her hard work the school grew and developed step by step and became a Higher Secondary School which could win the Best School Award of the District in 2003.
Seeing the possibility for the children of Perumanam Girls’ Home to continue their education in the upgraded HSS of Thandalam, a Girls’Home was started with the SD Convent at Thandalam in June 2014. Children studying from Standard 6 to 12 could be admitted here. The Boarding House was closed following the COVID pandemic. Then a new House was built with accommodation capacity for 12 children and the Girls Home was re-opened in 2014. At present there are 7 girls in this free Boarding House.
Sanjo Nivas, a Charitable Institution was established at Kuthlur in the Diocese of Belthangady on 15 December 2020. It was blessed by Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy, the Bishop of Bethangadi Diocese. The institution was initiated by Mother Carmaletha, a visionary and the then Provincial Superior of SD St. Joseph Province. The pioneers of the community of Sisters were Sr. Gracin, Sr. Jane Maria, and Sr. Lily. Sanjo Nivas operates with the support of Dream India Network, a non-profit organization, accommodating eight girls between 7 and 11 years of age. We admit marginalized poor orphan girls or girls of illegal birth with single parent. The aim of the institution is to offer a safe shelter to these girls providing them with good education, empowering them to lead a civilized life as noble citizens, thereby contributing to the well-being of the society. They study at St. Peter Claver English Medium School at Alengady.
A beacon of hope for the vulnerable children, Sanjo Bhavan is a sanctuary of peace and joy to the marginalized children of Bangalore. Founded on 13 June 2018, this Institution has evolved into a comprehensive care centre providing shelter, education, and support to forsaken and stranded children. The journey of Sanjoe Bhavan began on 14 June 2013 at a rented house at Kothannur Dinne with Srs. Santa Maria and Joe Maria. Recognizing the growing need for such a facility, the Congregation managed to acquire a small plot of land at Kothannur Dinne to build a permanent convent. The foundation stone was laid by Rev. Fr. Grorge Myladoor, construction of the convent was overseen by Sr. Greena, and the building was blessed by Mar Antony Kariyil, the Bishop of Mandya. Though initially designed as a residence for paying guests, considering the need of the place it was decided to establish a foster home. Thus on 13 June 2018, Sanjoe Bhavan opened its doors to orphaned and semi-orphaned children, providing a loving and pleasant home for eight young girls. This Foster Home was officially inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Edward SDB, the Founder of Dream India Network, and it receives valuable support from the network. The children residing at Sanjoe Bhavan receive quality education at St. Francis English Medium School, Jambusavari Dinne in JP Nagar. In 2021, the foster home got registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, solidifying its commitment to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children aged 7 to 11. The Institution’s mission is to integrate these vulnerable children into the mainstream of society through education, care, provision of basic amenities and good formation.