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Genesis of 20 Convents in Salem Province
SMMI CONVENT OTHAIYAL - (1999)
THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY :
- To take care of the faith formation of the people.
- To engage in the socio-pastoral activities.
- To organize and to promote Women empowerment activities.
ORIGIN OF THE COMMUNITY :
- SMMI Convent at Othaiyal was bloomed after the decision of our General Chapter 1997 to start three mobile communities to be engaged exclusively for the purpose of faith formation of the people and to begin women development programmes.
- With the permission of Most.Rev.Arockia Samy, Arch Bishop of Madurai, the mission team located a village called Kalavasal near Rajapalayam.
- On 08.08.1998 the Pioneer team Sr.Alphonse Britto, Sr.Flora Valan and Sr.Noel Lilly Pushpam arrived at Kalavalasal. Sr.Alphonse Britto was the first Superior of this community. The presence and service of the sisters were felt more pressing need in Othaiyal. Hence sisters shifted from Kalavasal to Othaiyal the newly erected parish to work with MSFS fathers and to get involved full time in the pastoral activities.
- On 13.07.1999 three of our sisters Sr.Alphonse Britto, Sr.Irene and Sr.FloraValan landed in Othaiyal and rented an old building for two years which was used for manufacturing match boxes. Two of our sisters went in turn to teach in the parish school from 9 am to 1 pm. In the evening sisters go to the villages for pastoral visits.
- On 17.04.2001 our new convent was blessed by our Most .Rev. Antony Pappusamy,Auxiliary Bishop of Madurai.
- Sr.Flora Valan was appointed as superior of Othaiyal in the year 2010. She conducted free tuition centres in five villages as well as for the local children after their school hours. She collaborated with a social work centre in Madurai and helped to set up mini libraries in five villages in and around Othaiyal.
- Sisters continue to involve actively in the parish activities. In the year 2019 Sr.Josephine Therese took an initiative to give training in Tailoring for young girls who are jobless.
ANIMATORS
| Sr.Alphonse Britto | 1998 - 2003 |
| Sr.Gracia | 2003 - 2005 |
| Sr.Mary Francis | 2005 - 2010 |
| Sr.Flora Valan | 2010 - 2014 |
| Sr.Josephine Therese | 2014 - |
