Sr M Edna BS
Superior
Members of the Community
Convent building
Love for the Manual labour
Teaching catechism
On the distant coast line of Udupi Diocese in a green land of Padukone one can see St Antony’s Convent today. Padukone in Kundapur Taluk is an island. There was no bridge to cross the river for the buses or vehicles. People were using boats to cross the river. Commodities were brought by boat from Kundapur. There was one High school at Padukone owned by Mr Gregory Almeida. He also owned a tile factory and some trucks for transportation.
The education of the Catholic children in Padukone was very much neglected due to lack of dedicated teachers. Most of the children would discontinue their studies in the higher primary school. Seeing the plight of the poor children Rev. Fr Richard Saldanha, the Parish Priest of Padukone felt the need to have Religious Sisters in the parish and approached Most Rev. Basil S. D’Souza, the Bishop. The Bishop directed him to the Superior General of Bethany Congregation. After repeated requests, seeing the urgent need, the Superior General Mother Macrina decided to open a convent in Padukone in 1975.
Before opening the convent 2.60 acres of land was bought and a well was sunk in the plot by the Congregation, two furlongs away from the church. On 31st May 1975, Mother Macrina, the Superior General, together with Sr Helen Mary, Sr Heric, and Sr Genevira travelled from Bethany Mother House to Padukone. The parish priest and the people accorded a warm welcome to the Sisters. He had already vacated his house for the sisters to stay while he moved to a small room in the sacristy. The next day was the reopening of the school. Sr Helen Mary took charge as the head mistress of St Antony’s Higher Primary School while Sr Heric was the assistant.
The strength in the Higher Primary school increased year by year. So the sisters applied for the bifurcation of classes. New appointments had to be made. Some people wanted the local teachers to be appointed while the others were for the appointment of some more Sisters.
The Sisters worked hard to improve the standard of the students in the school by taking extra coaching classes for the slow learners. The sisters were engaged sacristy work and visiting families on Sundays and holidays. As a result of the rapport built with the people, Bethany received its first vocation from Padukone within a year.
Besides teaching, the Sisters are also engaged in pastoral activities viz., teaching Catechism, animating the Society of Vincent de Paul, Altar Boys’, Marian Girls’ Sodality, Indian Christian Youth Movement, Youth Christian Students, Small Christian Community and organizing women in the parish.
With regard to social concerns St Antony’s Convent reaches out to the poor and the needy in its own humble manner. Sr Josephine and Sr Michelle in their tenure of office as directresses of Jeevandhara have conducted outreach Programs in Padukone and helped to organize women of the locality. On 5th December 1995 Usha Mahila Mandal was inaugurated and was registered. Their first meeting was held on 25th November 2006.
At present Sr Edna is the superior who animates the community. As the strength of the students in the school has been on the decline, the number of the teaching Sisters in the school is also small. True to the call of the master the sisters continue the mission with greater zeal.
SUPERIORS:
Sr M Helen Mary BS 1975-1981 Sr M Peregrine BS 1981-1984
Sr M Stella BS 1984-1987 Sr M Sharal BS 1987-1990
Sr M Theresa Sequiera 1990-1993 Sr M Loyoline BS 1993-1996
Sr M Amala BS 1996-1998 Sr M Lilly Gonsalves BS 1998-2001
Sr M Loyoline BS 2001-2004 Sr M Philomen Sequeira 2004-2010
Sr M Lucy BS 2010- 2016 Sr M Edna BS 2016 -
Present Superior : Sr M Edna BS
Year of establishment :01-06-1975