ST. THERESE CONVENT, SHORANUR

St. Therese Convent, located southeast of Calicut and overlooking the railway junction, is the fourth convent of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation in Malabar. Bishop Paul Perini S.J., who had come to Calicut from the Diocese of Mangalore, recognized the need for Catholic educational institutions in South Malabar. The railway junction offered a strategic location for expanding the Catholic mission. Fr. Porta, the parish priest, tirelessly advocated for a Catholic school in Shoranur. After persistent efforts, the Sisters rented a small house near the parish church for Rs. 25 per month. With the support of Mother Josephine, the Superior General, St. Therese Convent and School officially opened on 19th January 1929. St. Therese was chosen as the patroness of the convent and school.

Over time, St. Therese School grew significantly and gained permanent recognition in 1945. Following government orders in 1961, classes from 1 to 4 were detached from the high school to form a separate institution with its own headmistress. In 1965, the convent launched St. Therese English Junior School, an English nursery school with 25 students. In 1998, St. Therese Higher Secondary School was inaugurated. The school celebrated its Platinum Jubilee in 2004, laying the foundation for a memorial block. The Crèche serving local children closed in 2005 due to a lack of enrollees, while the craft center for women closed in 2007 for similar reasons.

A new building with twelve rooms and a maid’s quarters was completed in 2009 and blessed by Rev. Fr. George Louis. The Platinum Jubilee Memorial Auditorium was inaugurated in 2012. In 2014, the Latin religious houses of Palakkad District, previously part of the Calicut Diocese, joined the new Diocese of Sultanpet in Palakkad.

A house named Verona Villa was constructed for an underprivileged student, and an orchard dedicated to Mother Veronica was planted in 2018. A new three-story building for the Junior School was blessed on 28th November 2018. In January 2019, the school celebrated its ninetieth anniversary, which included a ceremony honoring all retired staff members.

Our institutions are committed to challenging social injustice by instilling a spirit of compassion, fairness, and active social responsibility in our staff, students, and their families, contributing to a society of justice, love, and peace. Since its inception, St. Therese Convent has consistently promoted educational excellence and encouraged its students to care for the underprivileged in society.