Sacred Heart Canossa Convent, Mahim
The house of Mahim was founded in 1932 at the request of the archbishop of Bombay to take charge of the parish school of Our lady of Victories Church. The three Canossian Sisters resided at Bay House and took charge of the 190 pupils of the school. Numbers increased rapidly and a new school was constructed on Mia M. Chotani Road. In 1951 it came under the jurisdiction of St. Michael’s church, Mahim.
With Sr. Fernanda Riva as headmistress in 1951 and the other Sisters that followed, the school made tremendous strides. The children about 4000 were noted for academic excellence. The value based education was much prized. Thus it bagged the trophy for being the best School in Mumbai at Ward level.
The night school was started by Sr. Pierina D’Silva to educate the poor older girls. It has developed their personality, while providing jobs for these numerous underprivileged women. Many of them passed their SSC exam in flying colors.
Dev Kripa mandal a Social Centre was started to provide social assistance and employment for poor women. By the year 2000 the scope was widened as the Learn cum earn unit started. Thus, the center was abuzz with Tailoring, literacy and coaching classes, migrants care etc.
In 1961 a dispensary was started in Marinagar, in the Parish Church land to cater to the medical and moral needs of the poor especially of the slums. It later closed and the dispensary opened in Dev Kripa Mandal. It joined the Archdiocesan project for the treatment of Tuberculosis catering to the needy.
Sisters serve St. Michael’s parish and the parish in Sion by teaching catechism, serving as SCC animators, and liturgy ministers to the thousands who attend novenas in the parish on Novena days.
Canossa Mahim served as the Headquarters of the Province of India till 1974 because of its central position. It had the joy of welcoming Sisters from North, South, East and West of India including the Sisters of other countries, catering lovingly to all their needs.