Mangalore Community

Ashok nagar - Mangalore - Karnataka

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Foundation and Early Vision

St Joseph’s Convent Ashoknagar Mangalore was opened on 13th June, 1987. The pioneers were Srs. Francis D’Souza (Superior), Rosy Sequeira and Cecily Joseph. The presence of Sr Assunta Alvares, the Provincial who had accompanied the pioneer Sisters, the Sisters from our communities, the Dominican Fathers and a good number of priests and well wishers made the day a celebrative and memorable one. This day indeed was a blessed day as it was the feast of St Anthony of Padua and the eve of the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Bishop Basil D’ Souza blessed the Convent. The climax of the day was the Eucharistic celebration offered by the Dominican Fathers. In the Spirit of our Foundresses, the Sisters shared a simple meal. The Convent was a small house named ‘Santhosh Villa’, which was purchased from Mr. Tauro, of Ashoknagar, Urwa, an interior place, rather quiet and calm. It comes under the Parish of the Dominican Fathers, at Ashoknagar which was offered to us after considering several options. The Bishop desired that we could be involved in the liturgical life of the Parish in collaboration with the clergy and also in family apostolate.

The purpose of having a house in Mangalore was to facilitate the student Sisters’ stay during their study in Mangalore from time to time. It was also to benefit our Sisters, who would go for treatment or surgery in Mangalore. Having a large Catholic population and many institutions around would also facilitate recruitment of vocations.

The Convent is on the hillock at a distance of about 2 furlongs from the Urwa Stores Bus Stop. It is about 2 Kilometers from the Government Bus Station and about 5 Km from the City Railway Station. Bus services are good and so, access to the city and out stations is easy.

Without losing much time the pioneer Sisters commenced their mission of building relationship with the people of the Parish, and the neighbors. They got involved in the Pastoral work, Catechism in the Parish and to call forth disciples for the Lord. In spite of all the hardships, inconveniences and privations experienced, the Sisters sustained themselves in joy and youthfulness in the community. The contacts made with the people brought many blessings. Help and assistance came from different corners. Our Sisters from Puttur community, the close relatives of our Sisters and others were spontaneous in offering help. Some good and generous neighbors and parishioners came out spontaneously offering support and help even keeping their houses open for our Sisters for washing, bath due to water scarcity. They offered their houses to conduct vocation camps. The Dominican Fathers took care of every need of our Sisters. Year after year the student Sisters who passed through this community got a first-hand experience of the mission of this unique community –‘a halt and proceed’ type community where visiting Sisters were welcomed with simple and cordial hospitality. Sisters who wished to visit the doctor, or undergo treatment or surgery found their stay in this house convenient.

As years passed, the Sisters received candidates who desired to try the SJT way of life. They were hosted to pursue their PUC course. This necessitated an improved accommodation and the Province put up additional rooms. The old Covent building was completely demolished in the year 2008 and a new Convent building was constructed with a 1st floor and was completed in the year 2009 and was blessed and inaugurated on the 19th of March, 2009, the feast of St Joseph.

On 7th June, 2009 Postulancy was inaugurated by Sr Maria Goretti Martis, the Provincial.

With the budding lively youngsters, both Formees and Student Sisters, the place soon became a happy home full of life, joy and activity. The past 37 years have seen many committed and dedicated Sisters who toiled, continuing the mission started by the heroic pioneers constantly evolving methods and new possibilities for service.

Left to Right:
Sr Juliana Martis, Sr Flora Machado, Sr Theresa Noronha, Sr Dayana PR, Sr Alphonsa D’ Souza, Sr Rojamma & Sitting-Sr.Agnelo

Today the house is rather quiet and calm as the youngsters’ number has become very small. Candidacy and Postulancy have been shifted and so life is not as active as it was once before. Senior sisters, mostly retired, take care of the house along with a few young student sisters.

Our Vision: To make our SJT presence creative in the broken world of today

Our Mission:

Facilitating recruitment of vocations

Availing our services for our sisters who require medical facilities by our hospitality and availability

Embracing our role as prayerful supporters holding the needs of the world in our hearts in prayer and being a source of spiritual strength and hope to the world

Involvement in Socio-Pastoral Ministries

Socio-Pastoral Apostolate

We are happy to render our services in the Parish as the Pastoral Ministry is our main apostolate, a link between us and the Parish. We are happy that we are able to build good relationship with the Parishioners through our constant touch with them. All the members are actively involved in this mission of reaching out to the people in spite of our age and illnesses.

Today this house continues to render Pastoral services, visiting families, praying with them, visiting the sick and the needy in homes and hospitals, homes for the aged, destitute homes, orphanages, attending Small Christian Community Meetings, as Members of Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society and Rosary Sodality Associations. The Sisters take active part in the Church liturgy and activities, flower arrangement, taking care of Church linen etc. We also take great care to visit and pray when there is a death in the family and attend funeral services.

Family Visits

Ward Meetings

Legion of Mary

Prison Ministry

This year the community has joined to render services to the prisoners through the Prison Ministry of the Diocesan Mission. The Sister-in charge attends the meetings once a month held at Bikernakatte and visits the prison on Thursdays. Joining the PMI members, works for the release of the prisoners and visits their families according to their need.

SJT Friends

SJT Friends meet regularly to share faith experiences, to pray and break the Word of God. They assist us in the preparation of Liturgy in the Parish when it is our turn. They come to our help when in any need. We experience the family spirit celebrating the Foundation Day and the Feast of St Joseph our dear Patron. We celebrated Sr Angelo’s Diamond Jubilee on 20th January 2025 with our SJT Friends. As an action plan we visit and pray with families along with them and offer our support to the needy.