Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar

Our Institutions

Religious of Mary Immaculate (RMI)

Santa - Cruz Convent

St. Joseph Eng. Med. High School

St. Joseph HR Pry. School

	New Members

	United in Christ

	Of Late Memory

	Word of God

Santa-Cruz Convent, Kulshekar

Short History

Santa Cruz Convent, Kulshekar was established on 9th June 1932, in realization of the dream of Msgr. R.F.C. Mascarenhas, the Founder of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany.

In answer to the call to continue Christian Education to the poor children of Cordel and thereby to take charge of St. Joseph’s Elementary School of the Parish, Santa Cruz Convent at Kulshekar was started consisting of five sisters and two postulants with Sr. Zita as the Superior of the community and Sr. Marian as the Headmistress of the Parish School. This first group of pioneers was put up in a rented house in the church campus. The documents of the

Congregation illustrate how St. Joseph’s grew into a Higher Elementary School and made great strides after Bethany took over its administration in 1932, under the able guidance of our Founder, a great visionary and eminent educationist.

As there was only the first stage of schooling, it was felt necessary to provide with the secondary education to the youth of the parish, who were growing in numbers. Hence the Sacred Hearts’ Secondary School was started on 4th June 1943. Eventually the school has become popular in the suburbs of Mangalore.

Infant Mary’s Orphanage was started on 8th May 1944 to provide education to the deprived children from the villages in and around Dakshina Kannada to give them opportunities of growth.

To meet the growing and instant demands of a large section of the people, an English Medium school in the semi-urban area of Kulshekar was a dire need of the time. Sr. Agnella, the then Headmistress of Sacred Hearts’ High School and the Secretary of Bethany Educational Society started the English Medium Primary School on 1st June, 1964.

At present 31 sisters are residing in Santa Cruz Convent, Kulshekar, who are involved in various apostolates like Educational, Pastoral, Social and praying apostolate.

Present Activities:

Educational apostolate:

Sisters have 2 Educational Institutions at the convent campus namely

Sacred Hearts’ High School with both Kannada and English Medium
Sacred Hearts’ Higher Primary English Medium School

Pastoral Care:

The sisters teach Catechism in Cordel Parish and neighbouring parishes of Shaktinagar and Paldane.
They actively participate in the Liturgical services and in Small Christian Community meetings.
Families are visited especially of the poor, the sick and the aged to comfort them and to help them in their needs.
First communicants are taught catechism and adults are prepared for the sacrament of marriage according to the needs.
Bethany Lay Association is a new off shoot of Santa Cruz Convent initiated on 29th July 2008. Its members share in the charism and spirituality of Bethany Congregation. They also share in the pastoral apostolate of the Sisters.

Hostel Ministry:

Infant Mary’s Hostel accommodates the poor and the orphan students from the villages of D.K. and other districts. The less fortunate of our society, particularly from very backward areas like Bidar, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur are in majority in our Hostel. The children are supported, cared for and provided with opportunities for education and integrated growth. There are at present around 100 children in the Hostel.

Social Apostolate:

Jeevandhara Social Service Trust of the Province is the main unit of the community through which social work is carried on. Bethany’s goal to bring fullness of life to the poor has given birth to Jeevandhara Social Service Trust that organizes more than 100 self help groups, mahila mandals, children’s groups, and community colleges for the 50 villages of Mangalore and Udupi Districts. The Sisters have undertaken a number of developmental activities for the weaker sections of the society, considering it a privilege to be partners with God in making His Kingdom a reality.

List of Present office bearers :

Superior, Santa Cruz Convent	:	Sr Divina B. S.
Headmistress, Sacred Hearts’ High School	:	Sr. Winjoy B. S.
Headmistress, Sacred Hearts’ Hr. Pry. School	:	Sr. Emerita B. S.
Headmistress, St. Joseph’s Hr. Pry. School	:	Sr. Sarita B. S.
Warden, Infant Mary’s Hostel	:	Sr. Edmond B. S.
Director, Jeevandhara Social Service Trust	:	Sr. Michelle B. S.