A.C.PROVINCIAL HOUSE

It was the cherished dream of the sisters of the Southern Province, to have a separate house for the Provincial House and it became a reality in the year 1971. Prior to this, the Regional House was at Providence Convent and Sr.Mary kept in touch with every sister and replying to their leters in her own handwriting, giving what she could from her large sympethic hert, and she won all hearts.

In May 1971, the sisters of the entire region elected Sr.Fridelin as Pro-Provincial.

For various reasons, it became imperative that the Pro-Provincial and her counect shd have a separate residence. Way back, there was a prophetic whisper that the Florican Bungalow part of Carmel Hill property would be ideal for a Provincial House. In 1971, the idea took root. It was officially decided to make the Bungalow, the residence of the Provincial and her team. Rt.Rev.Dr.A.M. Patroni, Bishop of Calicut, blessed and dedicated the house. The first occupants were Sr.Fridoline, Pro-Provincial and her team Srs.Theresia and Domitilla and the community members, Srs. Conradine, Titus, Barthalomea and four juniors.

Every three years the Provincial Chapter was conducted and all the lifted, the Provincial Superior had a double turn of office, starting with Sr.M.Theodoret, the first elected Provincial Superior, following Srs.M.Annunciata, Theresina, Cleta, Rosy Joseph, Snehalatha, Ancilla and the present Provincial Superior elected in 2019.

The first batch of candidates to be received as postulants went to Mangalore on 31st May 1972 and joined the common Novitiate. It was a regular feature every year to receive the candidates here and send them to Mangalore. Long and short Renewal Programmes were attended by the sisters either conducted in the Provincial House or other spirituality centres like Sudeep Training Centre, Bangalore, Matu Dei, Goa etc. Several courses, a seminar for 65+ Baptis in the spirit etc.

The sisters of the Provincial House were transferred to other communities as per the norms of the Provincial and team and new members came into the Provincial House at the time of Transfer season.

Every three years the Provincial Chapter was conducted and all the lifted, the Provincial Superior had a double turn of office, starting with Sr.M.Theodoret, the first elected Provincial Superior, following Srs.M.Annunciata, Theresina, Cleta, Rosy Joseph, Snehalatha, Ancilla and the present Provincial Superior elected in 2019.

The first batch of candidates to be received as postulants went to Mangalore on 31st May 1972 and joined the common Novitiate. It was a regular feature every year to receive the candidates here and send them to Mangalore. Long and short Renewal Programmes were attended by the sisters either conducted in the Provincial House or other spirituality centres like Sudeep Training Centre, Bangalore, Matu Dei, Goa etc. Several courses, a seminar for 65+ Baptis in the spirit etc.

The sisters of the Provincial House were transferred to other communities as per the norms of the Provincial and team and new members came into the Provincial House at the time of Transfer season.

For better convenience a New Block was added adjacent to the existing parlour. A face left was given to the Provincial House by building a beautiful chapel and was blessed and inaugurated in 1916 and the surrounding was beautified by Mercy trees both fruit yielding and flowering ones. The latest inprovent the solar system covering every nook and corner of the house, which lit up the whole house. To mention all the developments in the Provincial House, in the course of the years is a marvelous transformation from the minute beginning to date.

Like all beginnings, the Southern Province had a very modest beginning. The Apostolic Carmel has graven into a vast institution spread North, South, East and West and the Superior General found it impossible to visit the for flung convents. She therefore appointed delegates in 1965 in various areas to help her in the administration. Later these grew into Regions, Pro – Provinces and finally into provinces. Sr.Eanswide was the first delegate of what would grow into the Southern Province.

Sr.Mary was appointed the first Regional Superior by the Superior General as also her consultors – Sr.Josefa, Edburga and Berenice. Sr.Mary stayed in Providence Convent and carried on the administration of the Province, visiting, guiding and renewing the communities for five years till March 1971.

The Provincial House was opened on 26.9.1971. the first community comprised of Sr.Fridolin, ProProvincial Superior, Sr.Thersesia, first Assistant, Sr.Domittilla, the Provincial Bursar, Srs.Contradine, Titus, Bartholomea and 4 junior sisters one of whom was Sr.Marie Gemma, who helped in secretarial work of the Provincial House. Candidates were shifted from Providence to the Provincial House.

The Pro-Provinces had finished their probationary period satisfactorily and were now known as Provinces. That three year term of Sr.Fridolin had ended and the sisters voted for capitulars, for the province was convoked the first chapter at St.Joseph’s Convent, Calicut. Sr.Theodoret was elected as the first Provincial of the Southern Province on 22.4.1974. The councilors were Srs.Flora, Theresina, Eustella and Annunciata. Sr.Domitilla was re-elected as Provincial Bursar. Sr.Fridolin went to Mangalore as she had opted for the Karnataka Province.

The Provincial Chapter met at St.Joseph’s Convent, Calicut on 16.4.1977 for the election of a Provincial Superior. Sr.Theodoret was re-elected as Provincial Superior in 1977. Srs.Annunciata, Eustella, Victorina and Purifica were elected as Councillors. Sr.Devotta was the Provincial Bursar. Sr.Annunciata was appointed as the educational referee, Sr.Eustella, incharge of social apostolate, Sr.Victorina as secretary and incharge of candidates. Sr.Purifica was incharge of catechism and moral science in our schools.

In 1980 Sr.Annunciata was elected as the Provincial Superior. Srs.Blandina, Rosaire, Renee and Baptist were chosen as councilors. Sr.Baptist was elected as Secretary. Sr.Devota was elected as Provincial Bursar.

In 1983 Sr.Annunciata was elected as Provincial Superior for another term of 3 years. The elected councilors were Srs.Theresina, Theodoret, Blandina and Baptist. Sr.Maria Latha was elected as Provincial Bursar.

In the Provincial Chapter 1986, Sr.Theresina.A.C was elected and her councilors were Srs.theodoret, Rosabelle, Renee and Purifica. Rosabelle the secretary and Ann Mathew the Provincial Bursar.

In 1989 Sr. Theresina was re elected as the Pronincial Superior and the councilors elected were Sr. Cleta, Geralda, Blandina, Rosaire Sr. Geralda were elected as Secretary and Sr.Nativita the Provincial Bursar.

April 1992 saw another Provincial Chapter in full swing in which Sr.Cleta.A.C was elected, the Councillors were were Srs. Blandina, Geralda, Theodoret, Clara Josph. Sr.Geralda the secretary, Sr. Nativita Provincial Bursar

In 1995, Sr.Cleta.A.C was re-elected. Sisters Blandina, Geralda, Theodoret and Clara Joseph were elected as Councillors and Sr.Nativita as the Provincial Bursar. Sr.Geralda was the secretary.

On April 22nd 1998 Sr.Rosy Joseph was elected as Provincial Superior. Sisters Rosaire, Desideria, Joselin Joseph, Ancilla were the councilors.

Sr.Ancilla Secretary and Sr. Francis Clare Provincial Bursar.

Sr. Rosy Joseph was re elected on 22nd April 2001 for the second term.

Councillors Srs. Joselin Joseph. Paulette,Shiela Paul and Theodolinda. Sr.Shiela Paul was the secretary and Maria Vimala the bursar.

The 16th Provincial Chapter commenced on 18th April 2014 Sr. M Annunciata was elected as the Provincial Superior. Sr. M.Rosaire first Councillor incharge of Formation. Sr.M.Theodolinda second councilor Provincial Secretary and Province Coordinator for ACA and Carmel Blossoms. Sr.Maria Karuna.A.C Third Councillor, Novice Directress in charge of Vocation promotion. Sr.M.Nirmal Fourth Councillor in charge of Education and Social Apostolate. Sr.Maria Vimala A.C. Provincial Bursar.

The election of the Provincial and Councillors was conducted on 23rd of April.2007. Sr.Snehalatha was elected as the Provincial Superior. The newly elected Provincial Team, Sr.Joselin Joseph first counccillor in charge of Formation and Social Apostolate Sr. Maria Karuna Second Councillor, Novice directress, incharge of Vocation Promotion. Sr. Rosilina, Third Councillor incharge of Education Province Co-ordinator of ACA and Carmel Blossom. Sr.M.Sujaya Fourth Councillor, Provincial secretary. Sr. Mercy Augustine Provincial Bursar.

19th Provincial Chapter took place from 5th to 14th December 2009. Sr. Snehalatha was re-elected as Provincial Superior. Election of Provincial team took place in the afternoon of 9th of the day of election. The following sisters were elected. Sr.Rosy Joseph first councilor, incharge of Social Apostolate and ongoing promotion. Sr.Joselin Joseph second councilor, Charge of initial formation and charge of tertians in the 3rrd year. Sr.Grace Thomas third councilor and secretary. Sr.Jovita Fourth councilor, incharge of Education and Province co-ordinator of ACA and Carmel Blossom. Sr.Mercy Augustine was selected as Provincial Bursar.

The new Provincial team ushered in with Sr.Ancilla as the new Provincial Superior, the Councillors being Srs.Rosy Joseph, M.Jovita, Marian and Maria Prasanthi. Sr. Maria Sheena was elected as the Provincial Bursar in 2013

In 2016,Sr. Ancilla re-elected and the Council members elected are Sr. Maria Karuna the Assistant Provincial in the place of Sr. Rosy Joseph, Sr. Grace Thomas, Sr.. Marian and Sr.Rosilina. The Delegation status was conferred to the communities in Tamil Nadu on an experimental base for the year 2015-16. The Provincial Chapter 2016 affirmed it and the request was sent to the Superior General. The Superior General consented to introduce Delegation to the Communities in Tamil Nadu. Sr.Jaya Mary.A.C, the Delegation Superior and the team members assumed office in 19th November 2016.

In 2019 Sr.Maria Karuna was elected as the Provincial Superior. Sr. Jovita, Sr.Grace Thomas, Sr.Rosilina, Sr.Maria Neetha were elected as councilors. Sr.Grace Thomas the Secretary, Sr.Shyma, the Bursar. The Provincial community all along was the Provincial and Team .The Provincial was incharge of the entire community and in her absence the Asst. Provincial takes care of the community.