Halkarni Maria Nivas
At the request of the Bishop of Belgaum and Fr. Lino D’Souza S.J, the Canossian Sisters established a community at Halkarni on the border of Maharashtra. Halkarni, a rural area with sugar factories provided some employment to the people.
Socio-pastoral work: Since the people were poor and uneducated they needed socio pastoral help so the sisters began their mission here in 1981 concentrating on pastoral work through catechesis and home visits. Soon Social outreach Programmes such as Mahila mandals, balwadis, Youth groups, Tailoring classes were started. Medical assistance was given through the dispensary that was started and also in the villages around Halkarni. In 1995 Sisters launched out into building small human groups including all categories of people for the empowerment of women. Later advocacy work was seen as they tackled the water scarcity problem. They have moved out into remote villages with an integrated approach to development in the pastoral, social and medical field.
Education: The villagers out of their generosity gifted the Sisters a plot of land. Here a Convent was built in 1985 for the Sisters who dedicated themselves to improve the education of the young by conducting coaching classes and a boarding for school and college going girls. Thus in 1988 the privileged few were given an all-round education, empowering them to stand for truth and Social justice while they excelled in their studies. Many of them have become Nurses, Social workers and some have joined the Canossian Sisters.
The parish is now bifurcated. The Sisters continue their social pastoral work in the villages. Added to this they were requested to teach in the English medium school started by the Parish in 2014. For 12 years important apostolate of education is carried on with one Sister as the headmistress of the school at vaitakwadi near Halkarni village.
Though many of the residents of Halkarni have left the village for better jobs, the apostolate goes on among the scanty population.