Print

During 1962-1975 Father S. S Carvalho, the Parish Priest of Milagres Church, Haliyal, had a Marati School with 80 children on roll. There was scope to start a Kannada Medium School at Haliyal. He wanted to hand over the school to the Apostolic Carmel Sisters who were in Alnavar. He inspired Bishop Ignatius Lobo (Bishop of Belgaum) to invite the sisters to start a Kannada Medium School. On 16th September 1969 Father S. S Carvalho requested Sister Silveria, the then Superior of Carmel Convent, Alnavar to send two sisters daily to Haliyal to teach Kannada to the Marati School children in view of starting a Kannada Medium School.

Bishop Ignatius Lobo then took the initiative on 6th October 1969 to request Mother Theodosia the then Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel to start a Convent in Haliyal. Prayer and discernment enabled the sisters to accept the proposal.

On 1st June 1970, Sisters Pia, Mary Machado and Stephanie Mary arrived at Haliyal. Sister Pia was the Superior of the convent, Sister Mary Machado, the Headmistress of the School. Sister Stephanie Mary started tailoring and embroidery classes for the grown up girls.

Sisters taught in the School during the day and in the evenings they taught Catechism to the children of the Government School. They took up singing in the Parish and prepared the people for the liturgy; they taught them to pray Rosary and other daily prayers.

In order to educate the village girls a boarding home was put up at the side of the convent. There were 30 boarders 8 being boys among them. The people of Haliyal were weak in faith and economically and socially backward and illiterate. Most of the people were Siddis.

The Sisters of Carmel Convent, Haliyal went to Mangalwad, Kerwad, Yadoga and Kersrolli to teach Catechism and hymns. Sisters slogged to strengthen the faith of the people of Haliyal without minding the cold, heat, the distance or the inconveniences.Sisters started a dispensary in the parish campus. A Balwady was opened in order to enable the mothers to go for work. Young men and women were taught Catechism and prepared for the Sacrament of Matrimony. In order to empower women, camps and seminars were conducted.

In the year 1984 Gundoli a mission station in Haliyal was accepted by the Province. Sister Viventia was in charge of this mission. However due to unavoidable circumstances this mission was closed down and in 1986 a new Mission Station Yadoga was accepted. Sisters helped in the parish. From 1986 to 1993 sisters lived next to a little chapel in this mission strengthening the faith of the people.

However on account of unavoidable circumstances the mission was closed on 30th May 1993.