03. Presentation Convent, Dharwad

 

Sr Archana BS
2020-24

 

 

 

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 Sr M Simplina BS
Superior

 Members of the Community

Convent building

Educational Ministry

 

Pastroral Ministry

Dharwad is situated closer to Western Ghats spread over seven small hills at an average altitude of 750 meters above sea level. The city enjoys a salubrious climate amidst thick vegetation. The convent is situated opposite to K.C.Park Dharwad.

Presentation Convent Dharwad was started on 4th Nov 1939. Rev Fr. RFC Mascarenhas, the Founder, and Rev Mother Martha, Sr Magdalene along with four sisters arrived at Dharwad on 3rd November. The then Parish Priest of the Holy Cross Church, Dharwad Rev Fr. Corta welcomed our Founder and the sisters. The pioneering members of this Convent were Sr. Priscilla, the first superior, and Sr Getrude, Sr Crescentia and Sr Placid. The plot and the house, where the sisters resided, belonged to an Englishman who was a retired Govt. officer by name N.L. Guider. Since it was late for him to hand over the plots’ documents and authorization to Fr Founder, he gave over the plot and the house to the Bishop to be given to the sisters who according to his desire would run an old age home. Then Dharwad was under the Pune Diocese. The Bishop of Pune Diocese invited Bethany Sisters to run an old age home.

There was no scope to start an old age home and hence Fr Founder and the Superior General asked Mother Priscilla, the first Superior of the Convent, to open a school for the education of the poor children specially the girls of the locality. Thus on 21st Nov 1939 the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady, the Primary School was started. Mr Britto, a Mangalorean, who was then D.F.O was a great help to the sisters. By his help the primary school building was built. When the Diocese of Belgaum came into existence with Rev Fr Michael Fernandes as the Bishop of Belgaum, the Convent came under Belgaum Diocese. Later, on 29th June 1966 Presentation Girls’ High School was started. In the year 2006 Presentation Girls’ Composite PU College was begun. In the year 2014, the Platinum Jubilee of the convent and the school was celebrated very grandly. At present sisters are engaged in pastoral, social, educational apostolate and prayer ministry.
With Sr M Simplina BS the Superior of the community, there are 22 sisters out of whom 8 are engaged in Prayer Ministry, and the rest are actively engaged in the following ministries:
01. Educational Apostolate
02. Apostolate of prayer
03. Pastoral Ministry: Catechesis, Family Ministry, BCC Meetings, BLA, Prison Ministry

Future thrust:
Youth ministry
Service to migrants
Hostel facility to working women and girls

Year of establishment : 04.11.1939