January 1st 1911 is a
memorable day in the history of church of Kerala for, it was on that day, and
the Sacred Heart Congregation for women in Kerala had its humble origin at Pala
in the Diocese of Changanassery. The Servant of God Fr.Mathew Kadalikkattil was
inspired to find a congregation for poor women who were deeply desirous of
religious life. He also had in mind to find a congregation to look after the
orphans and aged women who had nobody to care.
In the course of time, the congregation began to grow and the sisters
were called to serve in many parishes and other Dioceses. His Excellency Mar
Sebastian Valloppilly, Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Thalasssery
invited our sisters to Malabar. Thus in 1955, sisters came to the newly started
Diocese of Thalassery in Malabar. Since Thalassery Diocese was formed of a vast
area, it was bifurcated into two, Thalasery and Mananthavady Diocese.
St.Joseph's Province of Thalassery also was divided and the new Nirmala Region
was formed in 1985.The patroness of Province is Our Lady. Nirmala Region was
growing fast under the paternal care of His Excellency Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy
Bishop of Mananthavady.
In the General Synaxis of November 1988, Nirmala Region was raised into
Nirmala Province. At present Nirmala Province have 32 Formed houses and 3
service centers in Mananthavady Diocese, 5 Mission stations in Mandya Diocese,
9 Miision Stations in Bhadhravathi Diocese, 2 Formed houses in Thrissur diocese, 4 Formed houses in Bijnor
diocese and 4 Centers in Germany.
Nirmala Province comprises of
Wayanad District, Kannur District, Malappuram District Thrissur District of
Kerala State, Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu, Shimoga, Chickmangalore, Mandya,
Mysore Districts of Karnataka State and Chamoli, Uttarakashi, Bijnor Districts
of Utterakhand State.
The total members of the province are as
follows:
Perpectually Professed sisters : 385
Temporarily Professed sisters :
21
The
main apostolic work of our sisters is education, Parish work, House visiting,
printing Evangelisation, Care of the sick, Disabled, Orphans and the Aged. We
also have schools for Mentally Retarded at Chulliyode and Nirmal Jyothy at
Thoduvetty.
We are running hospitals, Dispensaries, Nursing Schools, and Home for
Destitute, English Medium and Kannada Medium Schools as our own.
Our sisters endeavor to witness
the compassionate love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as best as they can, in whatever
field they work. The growth of Nirmala Province during these years is indeed
remarkable.
We thank the Almighty God for the
abundant gifts He showered on our Province during this short period of time.
