Andheri – Nirmalashram
The Canossians in India were in search of a place for the formation of their young recruits. They succeeded to buy a plot in Andheri near the Jesuit novitiate. When the building was ready in 1963, the 35 postulants and novices with their Novice were brought here from the novitiate of Belgaum to continue their formation. A group of four Sisters formed the community. This house functioned as the formation house till 2001.Hundreds of young ladies were formed in Canossian Spirituality while offering their services to the poor surrounding areas.
Education: The beginnings saw poor children gather under the trees as novices taught them and m. Letizia guided them. As the numbers increased a school was built and it officially started in 1969 sending the first batch of SSC students in 1978. They were given sound moral, intellectual, physical formation with many extra-curricular activities. It soon became a grant in aid school and there was a rush for admissions. As the Novitiate and Provincialate was based in this Community, the school Sisters resided in the technical school building nearer the school and formed a community called Anant Niwas. The school kept growing forming citizens that gave honor to God, the society and the Institute at large.
The Technical school building was put up in 1972 to train women in Tailoring, typing. They received government certificates and were able to procure jobs easily. Later the scope was widened as it included other skills and was named Academy of skills. All these efforts were made to reach out to the poor who could thereby earn their living. The intense pastoral work in the chawls led to the formation of the Alcoholic Anonymous group Sr. Gracy Sequeira, it became a parent body with an offshoot in the Holy spirit hospital, working wonders among the addicts. Worth mentioning is the sponsorship programme that assisted poor children and their families with food, clothing, fees, books etc. Many success stories were seen as all these projects gave a new look to Andheri East. A night school was started but it could last for just 2 years as the area did not seem safe. Pastoral work also grew while Sisters were active in the parish with catechesis, SCC assistance, camps for youth etc. Sisters taught catechism even in 4 nearby parishes.
The Charismatic group ‘Jesus the real Vine’ has its weekly prayer meetings in our basement hall, which helps people from every section of
As our place is near the international airport, the welcoming apostolate began by assisting religious women and men in transit from Italy, helping them at their arrivals, departures, travel documents etc.
For some years aspirants and Postulants were given formation in some of the quarters of this house as the novitiate is within the campus in an entirely independent community since June 2004. The Sisters of Anant Nivas were housed in Nirmalashram.
In 1974 the Provincialate was shifted to Andheri from Mahim. Ever since then all the Programmes at Provincial level are held here. Later in 2003 the sick and convalescing sisters were taken care of and the Provincial infirmary was established in 2010.
This community had the joy of having the juniors and Seniors, those in transit, the sick and old, the educators, the Administrators, the poor and guests from every country, thus growing in love, harmony and true Christian fraternity, catering to all sections of society.