Auxilium Convent – Kalyani, 1980


Auxilium Convent – Kalyani, 1980

Auxilum Convent School

Arvedipur, Anandanagar P.O.

Kalyani – Nadia Dist.

West Bengal

Brief History

Following the footsteps of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello and led by our Blessed Mother the Help of Christians, our first sisters who dared to plant the Salesian charism in Kalyani and contributed to keeping the charism alive in the Church and in society and radiated it to its vicinity were none other than Sr Gemma Liberalesso – Sr. Superior, Sr. Dorothy Vogt – in charge of the Dispensary, Sr. Domenica Diengdoh- Headmistress, and Sr. Philomena Minj – In charge of the Parish Work,Family Visiting, and village work

The presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of was desired by Mons. Matteo Baroi sdb, the Bishop of Krishnagar who made special request to Mother Ersilia Canta, the then Mother General during one of his visits to Rome. The request of the Bishop was granted and Mother Ersilia contacted Mother Virginia Marchetti the then Provincial through Mons. Baroi asking her to begin a new presence at Kalyani. Heeding to the request of Mother General, the Provincial prepared four sisters for the new mission at Kalyani and were sent to Bandel.

The Bishop of Krishnagar donated to the F.M.As 6 acres of land at Arvedipur (Raghunathpur), Kalyani , to be utilized for apostolic activities.

From August 11,1980, the four chosen sisters staying in the community of Bandel journeyed to and fro to Kestopur village, Kalyani where they were offered a part of the village church run by the Salesians as their temporary residence. They needed to make a lot of adjustments and repair works and undergo many sacrifices and deprivations before they could take possession of the new residence.

They divided the entire asbestos hut into three parts: the chapel, the workroom and the dispensary. The sisters visited the families, carried out the parish apostolate and run the dispensary. The renewed hut was blessed and inaugurated during a concelebrated Mass by Mons. Baroi sdb on 24th September 1980. The first community consisted of :Sr Gemma Liberalesso – Sr. Superior, Sr. Dorothy Vogt – in charge of the Dispensary, Sr. Domenica Diengdoh- Headmistress, and Sr. Philomena Minj – In charge of the Parish Work, Family Visiting, and village work.

Major Intervention

  • Parish apostolate
  • Dispensary
  • Boarding
  • Primary School for the boys and girls (Bengali & English)
  • Self Help Group
  • Oratory