Gujarat

The mission began in 1862 when our sisters arrived in India, deeply influencing Gujarat’s history. In 1899, during a famine, the sisters cared for orphans at St. Paul’s in Sabarmati, marking the arrival of the first women’s congregation in Gujarat. Tragically, many, including a sister, succumbed to cholera. On June 5, 1901, the orphanage moved to Anand, where the sisters expanded their work to include evangelization, a dispensary, and sewing classes for both residents and local women. In 1935, they began the formation of the Little Daughters congregation.

Current Mission

• Orphanage and Evangelization
• Primary School: Founded in 1910 with a hostel for village girls
• First Communion Preparation: Catechesis for children
• High School: Established in 1959, Higher Secondary School in 1998
• Family Apostolate: Village and parish family visits
• Annual Gatherings: For married girls from the orphanage

Physiotherapy Centre: Health services for the community

Karuna Niketan, Radhanpur – A Brief History

Established on 3rd July 1984, Karuna Niketan was founded to support the Majirana community, Catholic refugees from Pakistan who settled in Gujarat post-partition. The mission began with village visits by the Daughters of the Cross in response to requests from the Ahmedabad Bishop and Jesuit priests.

Initially based in Kuntasari, the sisters faced challenges, leading to a temporary withdrawal in 1985. They returned in 1988, and in 1990, a boarding facility for girls was started. By 1993, a school was opened, later handed over to Jesuit Fathers in 1994. Today, the school offers education up to 12th Standard in Gujarati, with one of the sisters serving as Principal.

To support women’s empowerment, a Credit Cooperative was launched for 225+ women, providing low-interest loans for education, health, and emergencies. The boarding home continues to nurture 35+ girls, many from migrant families.

Karuna Niketan remains committed to education, healthcare, and community development in Radhanpur.

Missionary work in Ankleshwar began in 1964 with sisters visiting tribal villages. In 1981, the sisters established a permanent mission here, and in 1982, they began a boarding school. By 2018, an English medium school was started in response to local demand for quality education.

Vasava Community and Challenges

The Vasava, a tribal group, lost their land and became bonded laborers under landlords. Many migrated to Ankleshwar for work but remain in poverty. Education, especially for girls, is a major challenge due to distance and costs, with many children dropping out after 8th grade.

Current Work

The sisters focus on providing education and vocational training, particularly for girls, to break the cycle of poverty, with support from generous benefactors.

Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, is home to the Sacred Heart Church and surrounding villages with a predominantly Jathava population facing social issues like male dominance, child marriage, and illiteracy.

Mission History
In 2001, Archbishop Oswal Gracias invited the Daughters of the Cross to collaborate with the Sacred Heart Parish and local schools. The first sisters arrived in 2003, focusing on education, social, and pastoral work. In 2010, construction began for the Fatima Church and Convent in Ajay Nagar. By 2014, the mission expanded to Agra.

Social Initiatives:

• Goattery Model: Provided goats to 11 landless families, empowering three women in goat-rearing.
• Vaccination Camps: Held four camps, vaccinating 3,359 livestock.
• Organic Farming: Trained 81 participants in organic farming, providing inputs to 16 beneficiaries.
• Crop Demonstrations: Distributed seeds, yielding significant profits for farmers.
• Kitchen Garden Initiative: Supplied seeds for 30 kitchen gardens.

Pastoral Work:

• Organized Women’s Day celebrations with Mass and activities for women.

The mission continues to support the local community’s spiritual and socio-economic development.