Warangal

It was a long awaited dream of Visitation Province, to start their Mission in Andhra Pradesh. Sister Mary Sujita, the then Superior General of the Congregation expressed this desire to Rev. Fr. Thomas Sebastian the Provincial of O.F.M. Cap, Mary Matha Province, Vijayawada A.P. With the approval of Most Rev. Thumma Bala, the Bishop of Warangal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Sebastian invited the Sisters of Notre Dame in 2005 to open a convent in Warangal and to collaborate with them in the apostolate of education along with involvement in the Parish.

Though the Capuchin Fathers offered a small plot of land for the convent building, Sisters Pratima and Shylaja stayed in a three- room rented house till 2009.

The first Notre Dame convent was built and inaugurated on May 31st 2005, relieving the pioneers of a host of struggles!

Besides the Education Apostolate the sisters were teaching Catechism in the Parish till 2011. They visit families especially during weekends and holidays. At present there are three Sisters in the community; Sr. Vibha, superior and part time teacher, Sr. Naveena, principal and Sr. Eliza, teacher. They are Learning and speaking the local language Telugu, to be able to enter into the lives of people and their families.

Theegarajupally

When the sisters began their mission in Theegarajupally, they commuted from the convent home in Warangal about 30 K.M. away on a daily basis as they had no convent in the school campus. When the new school building was completed the sisters moved into three rooms of the school, blessing and placing the holy Eucharist in the make-shift chapel. Srs. M. Daisy, Annie, Ranjana and Rashmita were the first community members, Sr. Daisy being the Local Superior and Sr. Ranjana, the principal of the budding school. All the members of the community are engaged in the school as trained teachers are hardly available. On week ends and holidays the sisters visit families of the village especially those of our own students. They accompany a very enthusiastic parish priest to neighbouring sub-stations to conduct liturgy and other pastoral works.

The innovative sisters compiled a book of Telugu songs written in Hindi script for initial learning and singing as the language is totally alien to every one of them. The risk-taking missionaries have now mastered the language and offer counsel and consolation to many who need such assistance in the village. The sisters also conduct vocation camps in their campus to conscientize young catholic girls to join hands with them to serve the cause of education and save their village from the evils of ignorance, illiteracy and poverty. The sisters are happy and content to be able to continue the mission of Jesus by their presence and works.