The Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo

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

Perambur, Charles Villa

This house was the official headquarters of the Eastern Province from 1984- 1998. It served as the house for student sisters from 1998 after the transition of Provincial House to Vinayagapuram, and continued to be a welcome abode to all the sisters from North, East and West who visit Chennai for various purposes.

Apostolic Activities

The evening tuition center started in 1991 by Sr. Matilda Maliekkal with 13 children had grown in strength and quality. It catered to nearly 200 poor children from STD III to XII going to different schools in around Perambur. Well qualified teachers were appointed to give good coaching in all the subjects and supervise their studies.  The sisters take care of the students’ all-round development and growth. The study centre at Thikkakulam was also supervised by a sister from this community.

The tailoring class which began in the year 1992 with 6 students had gradually and steadily grown. 30 women in two batches used to be taught by a well-qualified teacher.

In the year 2003 a play school was started by Sr. Sagayam M. About 30 kids were admitted to St.Charles Play School for three or four consecutive years.

Collaboration with the Parish administrative body is another area of service the Sisters generously render. Teaching Sunday Catechism, monitoring the B.C.C groups, distribution of Holy Communion to the sick in the Parish etc., are the pastoral care they are engaged with.

The Charism of reaching out to the poor in Compassion is made vivid by the very life of the Sisters. They work for the poor, irrespective of caste and creed. The personal contact of the sisters with the parents of the evening class students has made a lot of difference in their relationships and is the source of encouragement to the students. Frequent family visits provide opportunities to get know the struggles and joys of the people in the neighborhood and Parish. Small acts of kindness, ordinary deeds of love, lending a listening ear to the lonely and the troubled, being available to the people who come to the house are all vehicles of compassion which keep the sisters in solidarity with the people around. Therefore we can say that this transit house has become a Social Service Center by the nature of service and all the activities carried on here.

The thought of making it a self-supported and contributive unit has propelled the Provincial team to terrace down the old building as a whole in order to construct in its place a multi-story building that will shelter a community as well as 60 Working Ladies as hostellers. This project started in 2020 is expected to be completed in 2021, God willing.