12. Bethany Convent, Dumka

Sr M  Alice BS
Superior

 Members of the Community

Convent building 

Hostel Ministry

 

Pastoral Ministry

Dumka is a town located in the north-eastern part of the state of Jharkhand. Dumka, means ‘skirt of hills’ as the city is surrounded by hills on all sides. Education for the tribals living on these hills was a much neglected one and that prompted Most Rev Julius Marandi, the Bishop of Dumka Diocese, to invite Bethany Sisters to his diocese to start a Hindi Medium School and a hostel for the tribals. A small room in the St Joseph’s School campus, blessed by the Bishop on 6 April 2002 formed the first convent for Sr Clara Toppo, the Superior, and Sr Balbeena, the member. The hostel that started on 22 April 2002 with 7 children,  accommodates 275 girls at present. On 1 October 2002 Sr Hilerian, the Provincial Councillor canonically erected the Convent on behalf of the Provincial Superior, at Dumka, with Sr Clara Toppo, Sr Balbeena and Sr Emerentia, as the members of the community.
Sisters’ Service at St Mary’s Hindi Medium High School

Children residing in a terrain hard and unyielding have a rare opportunity to study in the Hindi Medium School that started with 5 children and now has over a thousand romping on the vast ground. On 3 March 2004, the new school building was inaugurated by the Bishop and the dream of the least and the last blooming to its fullness is a rare sight.
Other apostolates
 
Pastoral work, visits to the families, pious associations, Bethany Lay associations, personality development programmes are the highlights of the apostolate at Dumka. Bethany Champions, Bethany lay associates are certain groups that adds to the vitality of the mission at Dumka. Pastoral care of the 275 girl students in the hostel steals away the full energy of the sisters.
 
Year establishment : 01.10.2002