Divyoday Province, Jalandhar, Punjab
Administration
Sr Suja Thomas (Provincial Superior) Sr Sarita Scaria(Vicar Provincial), Sr Tresa Sebastian, Sr Sebi Thomas, Sr Jisha Joseph (Councillors), Sr Jyothy (Auditor), Sr Ginny (Treasurer), Sr Anila Bastin (Secretary).
Province History
Responding to the call of the Second Vatican Council and heeding the invitation of the Catholic Church, the Congregation of the Holy Family (CHF), during the tenure of Mother Josephine, embarked on a missionary journey into an unknown land, trusting in the providential care of God Almighty. Providentially, Msgr. Urban McGarry, TOR, Prefect Apostolic of Bhagalpur, felt the urgent need for missionaries in the remote villages of his diocese and requested Mother Josephine, the then Superior General of CHF, to send sisters for the mission.
Thus, in 1964, a seed of the Holy Family was sown in the fertile land of Bihar at Charkapathar in the Diocese of Bhagalpur. The first mission house of CHF was established there, becoming the cradle of the Congregation’s missionary activities. Gradually, the mission expanded to different parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, and West Bengal.
The Punjab Mission began at the invitation of Late Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap., then Bishop of Jalandhar, through Late Rev. Fr. Gilbert OFM Cap., Parish Priest of Adampur. Rev. Mother Ersala, inspired by God’s love and with the consent of her Council, decided to open a house in Punjab. Accordingly, on 27 November 1978, a new house was established at Adampur, marking the beginning of the Punjab mission.
Over the years, the number of houses increased across Bihar, Punjab, and Delhi. However, administrative efficiency and assignments began to suffer due to geographical distance, linguistic differences, and cultural diversity. Recognizing the need for better coordination, the Delhi-Punjab Region was officially established on 15 October 2000.
Following this, under the guidance of Sr. James, the Provincial Superior, a nine-year plan was proposed during the joint meeting of the Provincial Council of Arunoday Province and the Regional Council of the Delhi-Punjab Region on 21 October 2000 at the Provincial House, Tilkamanjhi, Bhagalpur. Later, during the Provincial Election Synaxis held on 8 December 2008, the members unanimously recommended raising the Region to the status of a Vice Province. This was approved by the 17th General Election Synaxis on 15 February 2009.
Subsequently, during the 17th General Renewal Synaxis (15–25 May 2009), the name “Divyoday Vice Province” was proposed and officially accepted. The newly erected Divyoday Vice Province was inaugurated on 24 September 2009 at Holy Family Convent, Ropar, Punjab. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Ignatius Mascarenhas, Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh, during which Rev. Mother Prasanna Thattil CHF, Superior General, officially declared the erection of the Vice Province.
As the mission continued to grow, and since the majority of the communities were situated in the Diocese of Jalandhar, the Provincial House was shifted to Jalandhar on 31 July 2016 to ensure better administration, coordination, and accessibility for the sisters.
At present, the Divyoday Province comprises 87 sisters from different parts of India, serving in multiple dioceses. The Province has 8 houses in the Jalandhar Diocese, 3 in the Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese, 2 in the Delhi Archdiocese, 1 in the Faridabad Archdiocese, and 1 in the Thrissur Archdiocese.
The sisters are actively engaged in various ministries such as family visits, home missions, parish ministry, prison and platform ministry, social work, education, and care for street children and the elderly. They animate Holy Family Lay Associations, Angel Groups, and Mariam Thresia Clubs in schools. Their apostolate includes catechism teaching, sacramental preparation, prayer meetings, Basic Christian Community (BCC) and Small Christian Community (SCC) activities, and leadership in parish associations.
HFC Najafgarh in Delhi is dedicated to the care of street children, while HFC Mahavir serves as the Integrated Family Apostolate Forum (IFDF) of the Province, offering counselling services to people of all backgrounds. Sisters in the Delhi Archdiocese also collaborate with both the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Faridabad and the Latin Archdiocese of Delhi.
In addition, sisters are involved in social work collaborations, including with OCD Fathers at Hoshiarpur and SJ Fathers at Kotla Nihang, Ropar. The Province also promotes local vocations, with sisters from Punjab and candidates under formation from various parts of North India.
Though few in number, the sisters of the Divyoday Province remain committed to building the Kingdom of God and serving the Church with dedication, bringing faith and hope to the people they serve.