“While our education will be directed towards the total development of the person, we will be primarily concerned with instilling Gospel Values in those we educate and forming responsible citizens of the country who are ready to take their place in social, political and cultural life with selflessness and zeal” – Constitution No 13 ofAC Mission.
Mangaluru: The Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel (AC) are members of a Carmelite religious institute dedicated to female education. It was founded in the latter part of the 19th-century by Mother Veronica of the Passion, O.C.D., under the guidance of her mentor, Bishop Marie Ephrem of the Sacred Heart, O.C.D., who had envisioned the birth of a “Carmel for the Missions” in India, devoted to teaching and education. On November 19, 1870, the first group of Sisters arrived in Mangalore, under the leadership of Mother Mary of the Angels, who was the first Superior General and novice mistress, to start the Mission. St. Anne Convent, which became the Mother House, was the cradle of the Apostolic Carmel.
The Apostolic Carmel has spread its branches into the various parts of India, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Pakistan, Kenya, Rome and Bahrain. The Congregation is governed under Six Provinces and centrally administered by the General Team from the General Mother-house in Bangalore, with Sister Agatha Mary as the present Superior General. The mission of the religious institute was and remains Catholic Education. It provides a Catholic value-based education, with special attention given to the disadvantaged sections of society through various levels of education: pre-primary, primary, secondary, pre-university, higher,technical and special education for the disabled. The other ministries include: healing ministry, nursing care, de-addiction and rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts, self-help groups, prison ministry, ministering to persons with different disabilities, community-based-rehabilitation, Catechism and faith education.
And one such educational and technical institute managed by the AC nuns is the Vijaymari Technical Institute and Community College located near Mary hill, and has been serving to the needs of the young women in building various careers in their lives since 1965. Viyaymari motto challenges them to spend themselves in “Faith” and ” Service” after the examples of Mary. Ever since the opening of the Technical Institute, the service rendered by Vijaymari to thousands of young womenseemed like it was wanted, because the service has been beneficial year-after-year for the past 50 years, where students have come forward to get the training that they needed which enabled them to fit themselves to face life.
Vijaymari Technical Institute, and few years back the opening of Community College at the same premises, has servedyoung girls of Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring area by offering them opportunities to face the never economic challenge that developing India was posing for its youth. For the last 50 years, the Superiors, Misereor, and all the Sisters connected to Vijaymari had ‘fought the good fight’ in raising this institute to greater heights, thereby making their dear Mother Theodosia’s – the founder of Vijyamari, vision a reality. 50 golden years indeed, purified with splinters from the cross of His Son- Splinters that hurt in order to bind, the Apostolic Carmelite nuns worked together hard in keeping this institute running smoothly and successfully, catering to the needs of young women- and they hope to continue serving in the same way in the years to come.
The brainchild behind the starting of Vijaymari Technical Institute was the Superior General (1959-1972) then, Mother M Theodosia AC who wanted to provide several opportunities for the benefit of young Catholic girls/others who emerge out from High schools in DK, and who were eager to take some profession which would enable them to learn and earn and supplement their family income; and also Mother Theodosia realizing that these promising young girls were at the same time, subject of moral danger specially when they had no option but to leave Mangalore to find better jobs in cities like Mumbai decided to open this institute.
Realizing that this danger would demoralize the simple and innocent young girls of DK, Mother Theodosia didn’t waste any time in setting up this insitute which would enable these girls to earn their livelihood without having to face dangerous situations. It was then that ‘Misereor’ ( Misereor is the German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation. For over 50 years, it has been committed to fighting poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America), a Catholic funding agency, came to their aid and enabled the nuns to open Vijaymari Technical School in 1965.
The then Cardinal Msgr. James Knox also helped the AC Sisters by donating Rs 25,000 towards this charitable project, for growing rice around the institute for the benefit of the Hostelites attached to the technical institute. AC Sisters namely Sr Valerie-the first Principal of the School and Superior; Sr Rosetta-her assistant; Sr Leonie- a most skillful typist; Sr Clerice & Miriam Teresa- as supervisors and architects of the building; Sr Gilberta and Ligouri- who were in charge of the farm and domestic chores of the house, had played an important role in the growth of this institute since its inception.
Through training from this technical institute, the young girls learned various skills in Tailoring, Typewriting, Book-Keeping and Accountancy, Shorthand, Needle Work, Home science/Housekeeping, Embroidery and so on- which later made them to earn moderate income to support their families. Above all, the young girls were placed in a hostel where spiritual and moral life were taught to them by the Sisters concerned. Many families have been uplifted because of their daughters being working and earning now, after training and passing out of Vijaymari.
Vijaymari Technical Institute makes its own, the objectives of the Apostolic Carmel-India, whose educational goal is stated in its constitution. The Institute through its Courses has its specific objectives: – To give an all round development to their students building up the whole person, in order to be spiritually oriented, morally upright, emotionally balanced, socially concerned, intellectually alert and physically fit; To guide their lives as women, citizens and mothers by Gospel values; To draw out the latent talents of the lesser privileged, thus uplifting them to a decent standard of living;
– To equip them with the necessary means for employment or self-employment through the teaching of Shorthand and Typewriting, Accountancy, Computer, Tailoring, and other relevant subjects; To inculcate in them a dignity of labor through active participation in all the subsidiary crafts with the view of supplementing their income; and To provide students especially the opportunity of training in community living and developing domestic aptitudes, also geared to helping them in their family life.
Thousands of students from DK, Kerala, Karwar, Belgaum, Bellary, Chikmagalur, and many other areas have passed out of this Institute and are employed or self- employed, and also many have joined vocations to different Religious Congregations among quite a few have joined the Apostolic Carmel. Ever since the inception, although Vijaymari is an unaided though permanently recognized Institution it has developed steadily and it was only possible due to the tremendous support and encouragement received by way of spiritual, moral and financial aid both from within and outside AC congregation.
Over the years since Vijaymari started functioning, there have been various new courses added. Right from the start, the department of Commerce and Tailoring has been active, the former offering Typewriting and Shorthand in English, and the latter in I and II years Certificate Courses in Tailoring. Book-keeping and accountancy, Kannada Typewriting and Shorthand and the non-Government course of Needle-Work, Computer Course and others were added. A course in drawing was also added which helped students prepare for the higher grade drawing exams. Vijaymari also provides hostel facilities to their students and also to other students who pursue their education at other institutions like St Agnes College.
Besides these courses approved by the Department of Technical Education, subsidiary crafts such as Home Science and House-Keeping, Poultry, Animal Husbandry and Laundry were also added. But due to certain circumstances, Poultry, Animal Husbandry and Laundry were closed down during the past years. daily classes in Christian Life Education, Classes in liturgical singing, Leadership Training course, family Life education, Legion of Mary Apostolate, Annual Retreats etc were also part of the training at Vijaymari.
When Vijaymari introduced typing for tailoring students , it became a great benefit for all the students, as besides the additional skill to be aquired, the project which came under the the title ” Skills and Value Education” made provision for students to earn while they learned. This project was made possible through the generous help from SKIP Scholarship programme and through the efforts of Sr Moira AC who strived hard for form of Extension Training. When the Community College was launched in the year 2006, courses like Advanced Computer science, KG Teaching Training, Beautician and Tailoring was introduced, which involved more practical training than theory, which benefited the students.
Speaking to me on the meaningful emblem of Vijaymari, Sr Maria Joyce AC, the present Principal of the Institute said, ” The Flame- speaks to us of the call of Jesus Christ to be the light of the World; The Earth- Rooted in the soil of our mother land, we commit ourselves to the welfare of our country; The Coconut Tree- is a symbol of our district and of total self-giving; The Mountain- invites us to unite ourselves, with God through prayer; Water- is a sign of the grace of God, which enables us to be faithful to our duty; The star- signifies God’s unfailing guidance and support; The Cross- is the constant reminder of God’s unbounded love; and VM- stands for Mary, under the title of ‘lady of Victory’, the Patroness of our Institute. and our Motto- challenges us to spend ourselves in “Faith” and “Service” after the example of Mary.
According to Sr Maria Joyce AC, presently Vijaymari consists of courses in Shorthand, Typing, Accountancy, Office Practice, K.G. Teachers’ Trainees, Tailoring and Computer under the able guidance and training from Sr. Ida Barboza(Correspondent), Sr. Maria Joyce A.C. ( Principal) (in-charge of Typing and Computer), Sr. Jyothi Priya A.C.(Vice Principal) (Tailoring), Sr. Rennie D’Souza A.C. ( in-charge K.G. Teachers’ Training and Typing), Sr. Maria Jyothi A.C.( Teaching office Practice), Sr. Euna A.C.(Teaching Accountancy), Ms. Nirmala ( Teaching Tally and Two subjects of K.G. Trainees), Mr. Robert D’Souza ( Teaching Shorthand), Ms. Leena Fernandes (counselling) and Ms. Clemencia D’Couto (Craft Teacher).
Through all that God has enabled these Apostolic Carmel Sisters to do, and make them continue what they are doing, their main objective is to help the students to get the skills and attitudes necessary for community living with a sense of dignity in labour to serve faithfully God and the Country. Although the Sisters are trying their best in running the Institute to the maximum satisfaction of the students with quality and dedicated service and training, without any aid from the government, they request the readers of Mangalorean.com to keep their Institution in your prayer, and as they have complted 50 years of service to the needy young women in education, any kind of financial contribution will help them to continue their mission serving the students and community.
While the Sisters and Management of Vijaymari Technical Institute and Community College are looking forward for your support and co-operation, and if you wish to contribute funds to their projects you can contact them via phone at 0824-2213276; 8139916428 or email : vijaymaritech@gmail.com
While remembering the precious words of Mother Teresa, ‘ In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love’, I end this column with a thought-provoking message for all the good things and work that Sisters of Apostolic Carmel render at ‘Vijaymari’ –
“As you serve the Lord with all your heart and his life shines through you to light the way for others, may you rejoice in knowing what a difference you are making in His kingdom. For the work, love and goodwill that you spread throughout the community, may God bless you.”
