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01. Bethany Provincial House, Chevayur
SOUTHERN PROVINCE DEDICATED TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Kerala was the first place outside Mangalore where the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany started a convent after its birth in Mangalore in 1921. Now it is spread over Kozhikode, Thamarassery, Kannur, Alappuzha, Kollam, Punalur, Neyyattinkara and Thiruvananthapuram dioceses in Kerala, Eluru diocese of Andhra Pradesh, and Kottar and Tuticorin dioceses of Tamil Nadu. Sisters render their laudable service through all these communities. There are 22 convents spread over 3 states. The headquarters of Southern Province is Bethany Provincial House Chevayur, Kozhikode. The first convent of Bethany in Kerala was in Meppadi founded in 1937 which eventually had to be closed. The second one was opened at West Hill in Kozhikode in1938. The driving force behind this development was the deep faith and the intense missionary zeal of the sisters who landed in Kerala from Mangalore without knowing a word of Malayalam. Till 1977 the sisters who served in Kerala and Tamil Nadu were under the direct supervision of Mangalore Generalate. Later, during 1977 to 1980 they were clubbed with the Bangalore region and from 1980 to 1986 they were joined to the Southern region. Mother Esperie and Sr. Theresine were the regional superiors respectively in those years.
Regional Superiors :
The XI General Chapter of the Congregation in April 1986 was an important mile stone in the history of the Bethany Congregation. During this Chapter, the congregation was divided into 3 provinces and 2 vice-provinces for an effective administration, and their responsibility was entrusted to the Provincial Superiors. On 31st May 1986, on the feast of the Holy Eucharist, during the Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Maxwell Noronha, the Superior General Mother Sylvine declared Kerala and Tamil Nadu as Southern vice-province. With this, the dream of the Founder and its members to make the Congregation grow beyond the limits of language and culture came true. In the course of time, responding to the invitations of the bishops, new convents were started at Kamukinkodu in Thiruvananthapuram diocese, and at Pilakkavu and Thavam in Kozhikode diocese. Withstanding all constraints Sr. Theresild and her team led the province to greater success. The building which cost about 44 lakhs was blessed on 12th September 1991 by Bishop Maxwell Noronha. The old house was demolished in 2008 and a new chapel was built in its place. The first provincial chapter was held on 6th December 1991. The first house of the Southern Province in Andhra Predesh was opened on May 15th 1993 at Chintalapudi in the Eluru diocese. The term of the first Provincial Superior Sr. Theresild, terminated on 31st May 1993, and Sr. Georgita was appointed as the next Provincial Superior. The second provincial chapter was held on 30th November 1997. The chapter introduced some new approaches. Changes were brought about in the administration of the schools. After Sr. Eliza as Corporate Manager, Sr. Celia and Sr. Bernice became the managers respectively. There were good vocations to the Congregation. The final profession of the sisters was hosted at St. Michael’s in local language. On 26th October 2000, a convent was started at Anappara parish in the diocese of Neyyattinkara. In all favourable and unfavourable conditions, Sr. Georgita was able to guide the province according to the charism of the Founder. After an enriching career for eight years as Provincial Superior, Sr. Georgita handed over her office to Sr. Anseline, with Sr. Rosalind, Sr. Jaysheela, Sr. Theresild, Sr. Ruth Ann as her councillors and Sr. Ann Maria as the procurator. It was a landmark in the annals of the province to begin St. Raymond’s convent and Msgr. Raymond Memorial School in Chempanoda, under the Syro Malabar rite of Thamarassery diocese. The book ‘Jeevitha Poornima’ written by Fr. Geo Payyappilly in honour of the Father Founder was published on 4th March 2003. Fr. Geo Payyapilly and Sr. Benedict who co-authored with him are gratefully remembered for this venture. On August 10th of the same year the province had its III provincial chapter. On 17th February 2004 provincial councillor Sr. Rosalind who was suffering from cancer left this world for her eternal reward. In April 2004, the 5 cents plot of land with a small house, lying close to the Provincial house was bought for Rs.3, 25,000/-. It is now used as the house for the aspirants. As Sr Anseline was elected as the General Councillor, she handed over her responsibility to Sr. Theresild on 16th July 2004. On 12th December 2004, the southern vice-province was raised to the status of a Province. The official meeting of the Congregation known as ‘The Enlarged General Council’ was held here for the first time on 3rd March 2005. To ensure the financial security of the province in future, 21 acres of land at the cost of more than 1 crore rupees was bought at Karakundu in Kannur Diocese. It was the long cherished dream of the members to have a chapel in the Provincial house. The chapel was blessed on 26th April 2008, together with the final profession of the sisters. The first convent of Bethany in Alapuzha diocese was opened on 1st May 2008 at Thyckal parish. Rooted deeply in the charism of the founder and in the spirit of the XIV General Chapter a convent was opened at Uppudi in Eluru diocese of Andhra Pradesh. As the term of Sr. Theresild came to an end on 30th May 2008, she handed over the charge to the next Provincial, Sr. Lillis. Meanwhile Sr. Ann Maria was found to be affected by cancer and found unable to fulfil her responsibilities as the Province Procurator, on 1st June 2009, Sr. Vijay became the Provincial Procurator. Meanwhile the XV General Chapter, elected Sr Lillis as the assistant Superior General. She was replaced by Sr. Anseline, who was the General Councillor and former Provincial Superior. Southern Province has completed the 25th year of its formation on 31st May 2011. The Southern Province has now the strength of 179 sisters in 23 convents. The Congregation solemnly celebrated the 50th death anniversary of our beloved Founder. In memory of this, the province has opened and Old Age Home for Destitute Women – “Bethany Santhwanam” at Karakundu in Kannur.
Provincial Superiors :
In the year 2014 Sr Anseline completed her term as the Provincial Superior and the New Team took charge on 24th May 2014. Sr Santhosh Maria, the Provincial Superior, Sr Gracy Ignatius, Sr Tessy Maria John, Sr Judy Varghese, and Sr Daisy Mani became the councillors. The Province continues with the good works it has begun with deep faith in the Eucharistic Lord.
Membership: The Province has a total of 177 Sisters rendering service in the Province, Central Delegation and in the Delegation Abroad. We have 4 Novices; 3- Pre-novices; 6 Student Candidates studying in Classes XI and XII and 6 candidates in ‘Come and See’ stage of formation, hailing from Kerala , Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Dioceses where Sisters serve: Calicut, Thamarasseri, Kannur, Alleppy, Punalur, Kollam, Neyyattinkara, Trivandrum, Kottar, Tutucorin and Eluru
Bethany Provincial House, Chevayur
Provincial and Team
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