Community of Amalaham

The Redemptorist Fathers had long felt the need to have a school for the poor children of the Holy Ghost Parish. In the year 1954, Fr Mathew Hickey, C.Ss.R, the Vice Provincial of the Redemptorist Fathers, approached the Sisters of St Charles Boromeo, who have their Convent at Lingarajapuram. But his request was refused. Then he turned to Mother Anne, the Regional Superior of SJT in Bangalore. With her magnanimous heart and missionary zeal, Mother Anne accepted this request in the interest of the poor.

The Institute selected Srs Marie Alphonse Pillai and Marie Paula Thevar to start this school. Mother Anne told Fr Hickey, “You are working for the poor. We are cooperating with you in this. Our Sisters will not claim any salary for their work. That will be our contribution towards the mission.” Thus began this mission with a beautiful spirit of sacrifice, collaboration and generosity!

The Sisters started the school on January 17th 1955, with 90 children, teaching them under the trees. There was no room, except the ground floor of the seminary building, which the Fathers gladly offered for classes. The Community was not started yet. The Sisters travelled daily. After two years Sr Catherine K. joined them. The school functioned like this for 18 years, with the growing strength year by year, up to the 7th std.

The Redemptorist Fathers secured a piece of land on 48, Davis Road and constructed the School building with the generous donation from the Parishioners and our well- wishers. It was ready by 1971. The first community was formed with Srs Bertilla (animator), Mary Bernadette, Germaine and Elizabeth Cruz, on 8th December 1975 in a simple ceremony.

There was no house yet; the Sisters were given a few rooms in the School. But the good Sisters, with their spirit of sacrifice and simplicity, made it “a home of joy and togetherness’. One of the rooms was converted into a Chapel. With the Lord dwelling under the same roof, there was nothing to fear.

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