Shantidhara Province, Burari, Delhi
Administration
Rev. Sr. Aruna Jose CHF (Provincial Superior), Sr. Sandhya (Vicar Provincial), Sr. Johncy, Sr. Hima, Sr. Prasanna (Councillors), Sr. Darshana (Auditor), Sr. Regi (Treasurer), Sr. Edith (Secretary)
History of the Province
Mission Sunday of 20 October 1985 was a historical landmark in the history of Pavanatma Mission Region. Its long cherished dream was realized when the Provincial Synaxis decided to raise the mission area to an administrative Region. To bear witness to this great event, the Superiors of all the convents of the mission, a small number of priests and sisters from various communities were present at Pavanalaya Bhopal. Rev. Sr. Franco, the Provincial Superior during a modest function, read out the resolution of the Provincial Synaxis declaring the Pavanatma Mission as its Mission Region. Rev. Sr. Bessie was appointed as the first Regional Superior of the new Region and consequently Pavanalaya became the headquarters of the new mission region. The ninth General Synaxis of the congregation was a milestone in the history of Shantidhara Mission. It was at this historic juncture, that Pavanatma Mission Region was raised to Shantidhara Vice Province having twelve houses withninety nine professed sisters, sixteen novices, nine postulants and nine aspirants. The 28th anniversary of the founding of the chf mission in the North on 11th of February 1992became a remarkable day, when the inauguration of Shantidhara Vice Province took place having its head office in Pavanalaya at Bhopal.
To purchase a house in the capital was a dream of the General Council. Most Rev. Dr. Alan De Lastic invited various religious congregations of the Syro Malabar Church and gave entry to the Archdiocese of Delhi for various fields of apostolate. With the help of Fr. Sebastian Vadakumpadan, the then Syro Malabar Co ordinator of Delhi helped sisters to find out a place at OkhlaVihar. After the blessing, the Vice Provincial House was shifted from Pavanalaya at Bhopal to Okhla, Delhi. Hence bidding farewell to its birthplace the members moved to the national capital. As the sisters started to stay there, they came to realize that the house was situated in an unauthorized area of Delhi with no regular supply of electricity, water, and drainage facilities. Since the house at Okhla could not serve the purpose of the Provincial House, a suitable plot of land in Delhi for the purpose was proposed. Rev. Fr. Joseph Kudilil, the principal of Rosary School requested for the service of two sisters to teach in the primary classes of the Rosary School, at Kingsway Camp. Considering the fact that the provincial house would come under the same parish, the proposal was found acceptable and it was presented to the Provincial Council and was unanimously accepted. On 17th of February 1996, the building site was blessed by Rev. Fr. Edward Fernandes, the parish priest of Rosary Church. The inauguration of the newly erected Province and the blessing of the newly built Provincial House at Burari, Delhi took place on 19 June 1997. Rt. Rev. Dr. Vincent Concessao, the Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi officiated at the liturgy and blessed the house. Rev. Mother Mary Pastor, the Superior General officially declared the birth of Shantidhara Province.
Today Shantidhara has29 houses with 193 dedicated sisters working in 11 dioceses namely Bhopal, Bijnore, Delhi, Faridabad, Irinjalakuda, Jammu & Srinagar, Jabalpur, Jashpur, Meerut ,Sagar and Satna. Following the foot prints of St. Mariam Thresia, the Foundress,sisters make constant effort to visit families specially through home missions conducted in different parishes of the dioceses wherever we are invited with a group of sisters staying in an arranged house either in the parishes or in the convents visiting families to re-establish love, peace and unity in their relationship. Other than this Sisters are also involved in charitable activities in the field of education, providing relief to the poor, other charitable activities like medical assistance, home for the dying, hostel for physically challenged (boys & girls) and poor children (girls), conduct awareness classes and counseling for different groups, legal aid for the people who are denied of their rights.Sisters render their selfless services in the retreat centres and in the parish activities . Imbibing the spirit of the foundress, St. Mariam Thresia, sisters enter into the life of the people in their immediate needs during natural calamities, flood and other unexpected crisis. Let the beautiful saying of St. Mariam Thresia our foundress “Nobody knows how great is the reward that God gives to those who help the destitute” may be a beacon light for Shantidhara Family to move ahead with wings on their feet and fire in their hearts to make the families Holy Families.