ST. ANTONY’S CONVENT, VADAKARA – 1938

St. Antony’s Convent and School began as a small institution, growing steadily like the mustard seed in Jesus's parable, into a well-established institution that today imparts education to thousands of students. Until 1938, the only school for girls around Vadakara was operated by the District Board of Education. This school was taken over by the Apostolic Carmel congregation on 2nd July 1938 in response to repeated appeals from the public of Vadagara, conveyed through His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Proserpio S.J., Bishop of Calicut. On 13th June, the feast day of St. Antony, the school was placed under his patronage, and St. Antony’s Secondary School was blessed and opened on 4th July 1938 by Rev. Fr. Zearo S.J., the parish priest, offering classes from 1st to 6th grade.

A cottage located on a raised ground above the school, previously used as shelter for stray cattle, was cleaned thoroughly to accommodate the sisters. The convent and chapel were inaugurated on August 10th, 1938 by His Lordship Leo Proserpio S.J. The current convent building was constructed in 1954, and a new two-storied wing was added in 1971 to provide better accommodation for the sisters. A Junior Basic School was established in 1952 with an L.P. (Lower Primary) section and was renovated in 1994. In response to public requests, a Malayalam nursery school called Punchiri Nursery School was opened on August 19th, 1966. It was later closed in March 2019 and is now under the administration of the Junior Basic School. Additionally, sewing classes for school dropouts were started, funded by the School Social Service Fund.

Recognizing the growing demand for English education, St. Antony’s Junior English Medium School was established in 1998 as an unaided, recognized school. Today, the school offers all essential facilities and excels in both academic and non-academic activities within the educational district.