On November 9, 1996, Mother Edeltrud Weist, Sr.
Cecille Ido, and Sr. Lioba Yang arrived from Rome. At the same time arriving at the Trivandrum
International Airport from the Philippines was Sr. Leoni Joseph Manimala who
had just completed an integration experience.
A short time later, Sr. Veronica Origines, who was in Rajkot, Gujarat
State since 1995 as an instructor at the Jonas Institute of Nursing, would join
the group to form the founding community in Vilakkudy.
They were welcomed by Bishop Mathias Kappil, the
first Bishop of this rural diocese formed in 1985. He brought them to the parochial house in Vilakkudy. This was a small house with four bedrooms, a
small room for the chapel, a kitchen and washing areas. It would become the "entry point"
for other congregations, too, who desired to serve in this rural Punalur
Diocese dedicated to St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Since the Diocesan minor seminary was on the
same property, the Sisters had daily Holy Mass with the young seminarians.
The foreign sisters needed to exit the country at
frequent intervals to renew their visas. It created an extra challenge for the
small group. Yet, as a foreign congregation,
girls started to inquire and ask to enter. After visiting their families,
already in 1997, six girls joined the Sisters in the small house. The aspirancy had begun. In the next years, more young girls were
taken in, guided in their faith life and taught English while they attended the
local high school to complete the two-year program of formal education.
Mother Edeltrud Weist, the first Superior, always was
busy soliciting funds for the daily needs of the growing community, the
education of the aspirants, a suitable land property, as well as the
construction of a stable monastery. At
the same time she remained a strong influence in the formation of new members as
Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
A permanent location for a suitable convent and land
was found on a recently planted rubber tree plantation near the town of Punalur
some 8 kilometers from Vilakudy.
By January 2000, Shanti Nivas Monastery was
blessed. One year later the chapel was dedicated.
Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Koln Diocese, Germany, a significant benefactor, among other generous supporters from abroad, blessed the new edifice. The first
profession in the new monastery was in December 2002. Since then, the community
has grown to include 14 professed Indian Sisters and 3-4 foreign Sisters who live
the common monastic life with the Liturgy of the Hours prayed in English.
In the first 10 years the classes were always accommodated in the basement of Shanti Nivas convent in 4-5 small basement rooms, plus 2-3 other classes in the big hall, and at times outdoors under the trees. Already several batches of Standard IV students needed to transfer to other Upper Primary schools to continue on to Standard V. But parents desired that their children continue at St. Benedict English Medium School.
By January 2010, a
spacious 3-story school building at the far end of the property was completed
and dedicated. Each year following,
Standards Five, Six and Seven were added, the levels allowed according to
government regulations. The current enrollment
remains around 200 students with the majority of them of Hindu tradition.
Other
ministries of the Sisters of Shanti
Nivas community are associated with the Cathedral Parish. The Sisters assist
with the catechetical programs, help in diocesan initiatives for faith
development, visit the sick and elderly parishioners and neighbors, and
continue vocation promotion activities beyond the Diocese.
A
valued supporter to the early development of the community in India was Oblate
Isabella Mary Thennapilly (died May 23, 2015), who bridged contacts and
candidates of the Syro-Malabar and Latin Catholic rites, aided in the community
outreach in Rajkot in Gujarat State, and who modeled great dedication to the
poor, the sick and the health care ministry, especially in the area of Rajkot. Visa problems for foreign sisters and limited personnel
prevented development of the Jonas Institute outreach at Rajkot.
