Gumla

Great Things happen when God mixes with people. Great, beautiful and wonderful things happen when we allow the Lord to work in us.

It is very true in the history of our Gumla Community. In 1994, Fr. Peter Paul Van Nuffel S.J the Director of “AROUSE” and “JEEVAN PRAVESH” was searching for a Social Worker sister to take up the Women and Children’s Program in AROUSE. He went to meet the Arch Bishop of Ranchi Rt. Rev. Dr. Telesphore Toppo D.D. and expressed his need for a sister. The Arch Bishop suggested that he contacts the sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes in Bundu. On the same day, Fr. Van Nuffel met our sisters in Bishop’s house- Ranchi and requested us to join the Jesuit Social Work Organization – AROUSE (Animation Rural Outreach Program) in Gumla. Meanwhile he visited our sisters in Bundu twice and arranged for our stay at Gumla. He kept corresponding to the Local Superior Sr. Teresa Paul and the Provincial Sr. Loretta in Bangalore. Sr. Teresa Paul visited Gumla few times. In the month of February 1995 Srs. Loretta, Sabina, Irene Lobo and Teresa Paul came to see the possibilities of working in AROUSE and to meet the Jesuit fathers in Gumla. After that, the Provincial Council agreed to send Sr. Irene for few days’ experience in AROUSE. On the 2nd of February 1995, Sr. Irene came for one month experience to AROUSE to know clearly about its objectives, goals and our need to collaborate with it. After a months’ experience, she was enriched by the experience and was convinced of her role in AROUSE. She presented a report to the Provincial Council and waited for their reply. They were happy with Sr. Irene’s report and agreed to send her to work in AROUSE.

On 15th June 1995 she came to Gumla, accompanied by two sisters and stayed in St. Ann’s Convent since we did not have our own house in Gumla. The arrangements were made for her stay in St. Ann’s Convent - Gumla, which was their Regional house. She was appointed as the Sectional Co-ordinator for women and Children’s programs. Meanwhile there was a call for Sr. Christina Mary to join the Jeevan Pravesh team, which gives life orientation to the High School and Higher Secondary School students. On the 2nd of July she joined Jeevan Pravesh team happily. But she had to come and go from Bundu community. At this juncture, we felt the need to have our Community in Gumla. Sr. Irene stayed with St. Ann’s sisters for four months. We are ever so grateful to the Sisters of St. Anne, Gumla. They were very hospitable to us whenever we came to Gumla and stayed with them.

Meanwhile, Fr. James Lakra S.J. the Rector of St. Ignatius Community took all the trouble to find a proper shelter for us. After a long search, he found a suitable house for us on Lohardaga Road, near the Police station with a pious Hindu family- the house owner being Mr. Munilal Sahu. On 10th October 1995, Srs. Teresa Paul and Philo M.K. met the Parish Priest and Vicar General Fr. Peter Tirkey, as the Bishop of Gumla Rt. Rev. Michael Minj S.J. was out of station. They discussed about the house blessing with Fr. Peter and invited all the religious congregations around Gumla for the blessing of the house according to the custom of Gumla diocese. The blessing of the house was fixed for 15th October 1995. Our hearts were filled with joy and gratitude to welcome Fr. Peter V.G., the priests, religious from different Congregations and lay persons on this happy occasion. It was simple and remarkable day in the history of Gumla community. Fr. James Lakra S.J. – Rector of St. Ignatius community obliged to send priests to offer daily Mass for us as the parish was far.

In 1996 Sr. Anies K.V was appointed Superior for the community and they shifted our stay in Reshmi Nagar, in Resmi`s house (who is a martyr). The house was belonged to Professor Remes Kujur, it was good for us near to the Cathedral Church. It was surrounded by Catholic families for Pastoral apostolate.

In 1996 end Sr. Anies K.V. came in contact with Rev. Fr. Marc DeBrouwer S.J. the director of Gram Utthan Kendra the social work department of Gumla Diocese. He was in need of a sister for Women’s Department of Gram Utthan Kendra and she was appointed as in charge of women’s department. Many sisters rendered our services and still we are there reaching out in 15 blocks of Gumla and Simdega districts (3 blocks) of Jharkhand state.

In 2000 we found a piece of land in Dumerdhi through S.J. Rector and Mr. Roy the contractor. We were able to register the land for SJT Community in Gumla on January 2000.

On 15th May 2003 we laid the foundation for our Convent in Dumardih – 5 Kms away from Gumla town. Fr. Peter Tirkey – V.G. and Gumla Parish Priest blessed the foundation. Srs. Valentia, Mary Kurian, Alma Toppo, Prafulla Panna and Ammini Pushpam were present along with Mr. B. B. Roy and the land owner Mr. Ramlal.

On 14th March 2004 we shifted to our new Convent in Dumardih- Armai from our rented house in Rashmi Nagar. On 17th March 2004 we had the Inauguration of our new Convent building by the Bishop of Gumla Diocese – Rt. Rev. Michael Minj S.J. and had Holy Eucharist concelebrated by many Priests. Fathers and sisters from different Communities and 17 SJT sisters were present for the blessing of the house.

St. Joseph’s Community College Gumla.

We have started skill training for girls and women of the area, under St. Joseph’s Community College, Gumla. Vocational courses like – Pre Primary School Teachers’ Training, office Management Tailoring, Embroidery, Weaving, Spoken English and Computer Education, along with life coping skills have been stated for the youth specially girls, along with hostel since June 2011. Today the community college has grown in number. In 2018-19 we had 153 students in community college and in the hostel we have 56 students. First batch of 28 students passes successfully the National Skill Development certificate course in 2018.

Today we are happy to reach out to the people without any difference of any sorts in Gumla and Simdega some blocks, through our community. The Community College is become the urgent need of the hour for Youth and women in setting the future. We are here to continue this mission.

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