The Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo

Kamba village, Varap post, shahad, Kalyan west,
Thane Dist, Maharashtra, India - 421103

History of Charles Bhavan at Vellodu, Dindigul.

Dindigul is one of the District headquarters in the south of Tamilnadu, carved out of Madurai District in the year 1985. The district is famous for its tannery industries. It is the seventeenth diocese of Tamilnadu created by the orders received from Holy Father Pope John Paul II, on Nov 10, 2003. Most Rev. Antony Pappusamy was installed as the first bishop of this diocese on Dec 28, 2003. The diocese consists of four Vicariates namely Kosavapatty, Panjampattti, Maravaapatti, and Anandarayankottai. The enumerated catholic population is 1,03,049. In our search for a land to establish a formation house for the Province as per the direction of the then Superior General we focused on Dindigul diocese to have it there.

With the guidance of Bishop of Dindigul and the Vicar General six acres of fertile land with fruit bearing trees was procured at Soosaiapuram in Dindigul in the year 2007. A farmhouse consisting of just one room and a kitchen was built for two sisters to reside. Srs.V.Arockiamary and Jenita Siriapushpam were the pioneers of this community. Though the place was beautiful and the land was fertile with good source of water, the distance that secluded them from other religious houses and the Parish Church made it incompatible for them to stay in the farm. Another land that measures about 4.5 acres was bought at Vellodu, 8 Kms away from Dindigul town which is close to Madurai railway lines and road-highway, a quiet settlement bounded by Sirumalai on the east and Pandrimalai in the West. A house in view of accommodating 30 formees at a time was constructed here and on Jan 16, 2010 Rev.Mother Benedicta, the Superior General unveiled the plaque and Most Rev.Dr.Antony Pappusamy Bishop of Dindigul blessed the house in the presence of Sr.Jayamary, the Provincial of Eastern Province, Sr.Janet D’souza, the Provincial of Western Province and all other sisters from three provinces added joy and colour to this celebration.

The parish Church and a few religious houses are nearby; spiritual help is assured by different religious and diocesan priests, there is Dhyanavanam Ashram which comes under Vellodu Parish where our Sisters and formees get spiritual aid.

The new formation house named as ‘Charles Bhavan’ at present is a home for the Postulants of the three provinces. The sisters along with the Postulants get involved in the parish activities, like teaching catechism, parish-choir and family visits. This house always remains lovely and lively not merely because of its surroundings and the grandeur of the building but because of a bunch of energetic active young ladies; they are the treasures and future promise of the congregation. In contrast to the world that runs after pleasure and wealth, the young ladies leave all that the world counts great and offer their whole life for the cause of humanity in imitation of Christ who emptied Himself for the love of humankind.