URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA
Centenary Celebrations
1903 - 2003
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URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA |
Centenary Celebrations |
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"I Have come, that they may have life; and have it to the full." (Jn. 10:10)
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The four Ursuline Pioneers - Mother Gonzaga, Mother Anthony, Mother Ursula and Mother Sabina were welcomed by Loreto Sisters with open arms and warm hearts to Ranchi on January 13, 1903. More labourers to the Vineyard On the 10th of February, 2 1904 more Ursulines arrived in Ranchi, Mother Madeleine and Sister Berchmans. They were accompanies by Miss Elisa Van De Weyer, who later became Mother Xaveria. She was accepted as a postulant on September 8 and received the religious habit on November 4. On November 10, 1906, Mother Angela and Mother Denise of Tildonk with Mother Andrea and Sister Pancratia of Frankfurt, Germany, left Tildonk for the Indian Mission. In December 1907, Mother Theodora and Mother Eugenie arrived from Tildonk. Mother Agnes and Mother Madeleine disembarked at Bombay on January 5, 1909 and set forth by train for Prad-Gangpur in a reserved compartment. On January 10, at 11.00 P.M. at Prad-Gangpur, a Sister of St. Anne and 18 men were waiting for them. After a night's rest in the dak Bungalow, they were carried in a doli to Rengarih. In the river Sankh, they were carried by men in their arms to the other side. They had to pass through thick jungles and endless rocks and ravines reminding them of the Alps. On January 11, at 3.00 P.M. great was their joy to be welcomed by a group on the road and to be escorted to the Parish where Msgr. Meulemans was waiting to welcome them. On November 15, 1909 Mother Josepha Roelant of Tildonk and Mother Xavier Donur of Hoogstraten arrived in Ranchi. Mother Gonzaga, the 1st Pioneer House Superior of Ranchi was called back to Belgium to take charge of the Ursuline Community in the Isle of Wight. So Mother Gonzaga left India for good on 11th Jan. after 7 years of her zealous missionary work in India (from 1903-1910). She was accompanied by Mother Ursula Greinshade and Mother Madeleine Van Walle of Vilvorde. Mother Madeleine stayed back in Belgium. Mother Ursula came back on December 10, with by Mother Margaret Mc. Donnell, Mother Therese Marien, Mother Constantine Lievens, Mother Sophie Smets and Mother Emilie Leemans. As no help had come from Belgium for the last 5 years, Mother Anthony left for Belgium with Mother Xaveria on July 25, 1914. On August 4, 1914 they reached Aden at midnight only to hear that Europe was at war and that a fierce battle was going on at Liege. On the 8th, they heard that Liege had fallen to the enemy and the Germans were marching on to Namur and Dinant, killing people and destroying everything on their way. It was not possible for Mother Anthony to get any financial assistance for which she had gone to Belgium, but on January 6, 1915, both of them set out for India with 6 new Missionaries. These 6 had been in England to learn English. They were Mother Augustine De Smet, Mother Henriette Ampe, Mother Wivine Goredts, Mother Virginie Plancke, Mother Simone Vlaminch all of whom were from Tildonk Convent and Mother Gabrielle Disy from Laken. The group reached Ranchi on March 6. In January 1920, 4 Sisters arrived from Belgium, Mother Ferdinande Soenen and Mother Norberte Soenen (nieces of Fr. Constant Lievens), Mother Louise Van De Gaer and Mother Leonarda Herman. They were welcomed at Calcutta by Mother Anthony, Mother Emilie and Fr. Soenen, the brother of Mother Ferdinande and Mother Norberte. Mother Anthony accompanied by Mother Theodora went to Belgium for the election of the General Superior. Due to reasons of health, Mother Theodora did not return. Mother Anthony left Belgium on December 20, with Mother Anne Marie Rollandin, an Italian Sister; Bertha Van Loo, Belgian and Sister Valerie Hall, British. They arrived in Ranchi on January 8, 1923. Towards the end of 1923, Mother Denise Van Steenberge was brought in from Khunti to be treated for T.B. But soon her mental health broke down and that she had to be taken to Belgium. Mother Denise accompanies by Mother Henrietta and Miriam Toppo, a very calm and energetic lady, who was working in Ursuline Convent, Ranchi, embarked at Bombay on January 4, 1924. They reached Belgium after a tedious voyage. Mother Denise could not return to the Mission due to her ill health. Mother Henrietta returned to Ranchi on March 25, 1924 with the new Missionaries, Mother Norberte Coppens from Hoogstraten who came temporarily, Mother Helene Van Lissum also from Hoogstraten, Sister Dominique Coyle and Sister Ignatius Riordan from Ireland and England respectively. The two last named were Novices and joined the Novitiate in Ranchi. They were all welcomed with open arms in Ranchi. In 1926 the health of Mother Norberte of Hoogstraten was breaking down completely and she returned to Belgium. Mother Henrietta was down with high fever and was ordered to have a long rest by the doctor. Mother Augusta De Smedt of Hoogstraten and Mother Godelieve Van Achter of Puurs arrived in Ranchi on January 26, 1927. Mother Constance Jansen of Hoogstraten and Mother Dominica De Keuver of Tildonk arrived in Ranchi via Madras on December 29, 1929. On December 7, 1930 Mother Stanislaus Ollevier, Mother Christine Fraweel, Mother Joseph Flour and Mother Clara Ledoux from Tildonk and Mother Marguerite-Marie Hayen from Hoogstraten arrived in Ranchi. Two days later, Mother Stanislaus and Mother Christine went to Noatoli and Mother Dominica to Tongo. In January 1933 Mother Laurentine De Bruyn, Mother Tarecisia Vossaert and Mother Odile Decoster arrived at Ranchi Railway Station. In December 1934 Mother Veronica De Block, Mother Alice De Bruyn and Mother Majella Lauwers arrived in India. Mother Therese had laboured in the Lord's vineyar for 26 years mostly in Khunti. For reasons of poor health, she had to return to Belgium in 1936. On January 25, 1936 Mother Pauline Vandevenne and Mother Liguori Verschueren, both from Tildonk Convent arrived in Ranchi to the joy of everyone as usual. Mother Pauline being a trained nurse was to replace Mother Sophie whose health had broken down; Mother Liguori and Mother Margaret Mc Donnell as teachers in the High School, Ranchi. On December 24, 1937 3 Missionaries arrived in Ranchi. Mother Irene Vloeberghs, Mother Barbara, Vercammen, both from Tildonk Convent, and Mother Elizabeth Lemmens from Puurs. Mother Dionyse De Bruyn from Tildonk and Mother Paula De Block from Molem arrived in Ranchi on October 20, 1938. Separation from Daughters of St Annes The Bungalow called the 'Red Lodge' was already shared by the Loreto Sisters and the Daughters of St. Anne. There were at that time four professed Daughters of St. Anne, two Novices and several postulants. The professed Sisters were Sister Bernadette, Sister Veronica, Sister Mary and Sister Cecilia. The novices were Sister Agnes and Sister Borgia. The Superior of Ursulines also became the Superior of the Daughters of St. Anne. So Mother Gonzaga soon thought it would be a good idea to have a Daughter of St. Anne as assistant superior, and with the approbation of the authorities, Sr. Bernadette was chosen for this purpose. Sister Bernadette's term of office had expired and Sister Cecilia was appointed Superior. Towards the end of the year, the Daughters of St. Anne were completely separated from the Ursulines for all that concerned religious life. On January 10, 1910, Msgr. Meulemans presided over the meeting of all the Ursulines in Chota Nagpur. He reminded them of the Belgian national Motto, "Union is strength" and applying it to them decided that from then onwards there would be a Superior of the Mission, who in her turn would be under the General Superior of Tildonk, and would reside in Ranchi from January 15, 1910. Mother Anthony was then elected "Superior of the Mission". In 1919 time had come to entirely separate the two Congregations, after much prayer and reflection, a complete separation was permitted. Although the Sisters of St. Anne had formed an independent Congregation since 1906, they still stayed in the Ursuline compound. After their separation, all the Ursuline Schools began to be run by the Ursuline Sisters, helped by trained teachers. On July 26, 1906, four Sisters of St. Anne, Sisters Bernadette, Mary, Veronica and Cecilia D.S.A. pronounced their final Vows. August 25, 1906, was a day of rejoicing for the Ursulines when Mother Ursula, one of the pioneers pronounced her Final Vows in the Chapel in the presence of the Archbishop who was present in Ranchi at that time. October 10, 1906, was the turn of Khunti to witness the Final Vows of Mother Xaveria and Mother Johanny during a beautiful and impressive ceremony, attended by all the Christians of the neighbouring villages. On October 10, 1911, Mother Angela, Mother Johanny and Mother Denise, pronounced their Final Vows and Sister Constantine and Sister Sophie their First Vows. On December 3, 1925 eight Sisters pronounced their Final Vows. They were: Mother Louise, Mother Anne Marie and Mother Bertha of Tildonk, Mother Norberte of Hoogstraten, Mother Lamberta and Mother Loyola of Ranchi, Mother Renelde of Khunti and Mother Helene of Hoogstraten. Sister Dominique Coyle and Sister Ignatius O'Riordan pronounced their First Vows in April 1926. On December 3, 1928 feast of St. Francis Xavier, 3 Sisters pronounced their First Vows. These were : Sister Teresa Indwar (Rengarih), Sister Aloysia Kujur (Ranchi), and Sister Berchmans Kerketta (Noatoli). On May 27, 1929 Mother Dominique Coyle and Ignatius O'Riordan pronounced their Final Vows. Msgr. Perier presided at the ceremony. On December 3, 1930 Mother Francisca pronounced her Final Vows. On December 12, 1932 Sister Germaine pronounced her First Vows and Sister Constance Jansen her Final Vows. Indigenous labourers to the Vineyard The very first Indian Postulant was Pio Veronica Tigga, whose religious name was Sister Lamberta after the founder, Father Lambertz. Pio was from Pathalkudwa, Ranchi. She joined the Ursulines on December 7, 1918. She was followed by Elisaba Kerketta of Rengarih on February 2, 1919 and bore the religious name, Sister Loyola after the General Superior, Mother Ignace. The 3rd Postulant was Ursula Bhengra from Karra, Khunti, joined the usulines on 11th Nov. 1919. She later became Sister Renelde. The Postulants were looked after by Mother Ursula. On April 23, 1920 three Postulants Sara Toppo, Mathilda Lakra and Mariam Topno who later became Sisters Caroline, Celine and Celestine respectively were added to the Ursuline family. In 1923, Sisters Caroline Toppo, Celine Lakra and Celestine Topno pronounced their First Vows. On December 3, 1925 Monica Tigga was vested and received the name of Sister Francisca. Lucia Toppo Chatom, one of the teachers joined the Ursulines, on February 2, 1930. She later became Sister Gerardine. On May 24, 1932 Five Indian postulants joined. They were: Bibiana Tigga who became Sister Elizabeth, Magdali Xalxo became Sister Felicitas, Benedicta Ekka became Sister Seraphina, Christina Tigga became Sister Cornelia and Cecilia Kerketta became Sister Martina. On December 12, they had their clothing ceremony. In 1934 two postulants Theresa Xess and Mariam Indwar became Sister Mechtile and Sister Gabrielle. On January 20, 1938 Aloysia Dhanwar, later called Sister Emmanuel, a nurse joined the Postulancy. A cholera epidemic had broken out in Ranchi. On August 28, Sisters were plunged into sorrow as 3 of the Sisters of St. Anne died of cholera - Sisters Augustine, Constantine and Geneveva. Sister Pancratia of German origin born in Frankfurt had great difficulty to obtain permission from her Superiors to join the Ursulines of Tildonk in order to come to the Mission of Chota Nagpur. She spent a few months in Tildonk before her departure for India on November 10, 1906, together with Mother Angela, Mother Denise and Mother Andrea arriving in India in December. After the war, most of the German subjects were obliged to return to their homeland. Sister Pancratia prayed so earnestly to the Lord for the grace of dying in the mission. Her prayers were heard soon. She fell ill on July 29, and was called by the Lord on July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, at 9.00 A.M. The Lace workers, sisters and the girls prayed at her coffin till the funeral took place the same day. Mother Eugenie was in India since 1907 and died on April 10, 1922. She had been ill since 1915 when she had a heavy hemorrhage on the feast of the Sacred Heart. It was the beginning of long years of intense suffering. She had T.B. and though everything was done to give her relief, nothing helped. She accepted God's will generously. While her strength was waning steadily, her virtues grew to the edification of all. She was barely 38. On June 8, 1923 Sr. Simone Vlaminch went to bed earlier. She had been unwell since 2-3 days. After a while, hearing a noise from her bedroom, Sisters ran up and found her tossing in bed with high fever. A Priest was called in and he administered the Sacrament of the Sick immediately. Sister expired at 9.20 P.M. Her heart had not been able to withstand the terrible heat. Before coming to India in 1915, during World War I, she had been taken prisoner by the Germans when she was a Novice in Haacht. She was taken to Louvain and forced to watch the town burning. Then she was imprisoned for sometime in the soldiers' barracks. All this mean treatment had weakened her heart. Her death was a terrible blow to the Sisters. The women of the Lace school missed their beloved Sister immensely. Mother Ferdinande's health was a source of anxiety from the beginning. She underwent two dangerous surgical operations in one year in Calcutta and bore her sufferings with angelic patience. After the 2nd operation, the doctors discovered cancer in the stomach, too far advanced. On May 26, 1925 God in His mercy called her to Himself. On her death bed, she had promised the Sisters that she would intercede for them in heaven. Mother Norberte had the consolation of being with her Sister to the end. Sister Martina Kerketta who made her First Vows on December 13, 1934 left for Tongo on December 21, after her profession. She was found unconscious on December 24 morning and remained in that state until she died that evening. She was barely 24. Mother berchmans Kerketta died at Khunti on February 12, 1935, suffering from T.B. She spent several months in the bungalow of the Hospital Sisters in Ranchi. She was sent back to Khunti to profit of the better air, but her condition deteriorated. Mother Anthony, though weak herself, visited her personally on February 11 and consoled her. Sister Berchmans was only 28 at the time of her demise. This was the 2nd of the Indian Sisters to leave us. Both died young. On September 25, 1934 Mother Anthony was struck down by a massive heart attack and received the Sacrament of the sick on November 24. She bade farewell to this world on November 11, 1935. It was the end of a beautiful life totally dedicated to the service of God and of humanity. Mother Anthony, (Irma Anneessens) was born in Grammont, Belgium, on March 31st, 1866. She did a tremendous amount of work in the Mission and not only from the educational point of view, but also she founded four houses in the District, started Catechumenates for women and opened Lace-workrooms. Mother Sophie's health had been dteriorating due to years of constant hard labour in the hospital. On November 16, 1936 her soul returned to the Lord. Mother Sophie's unobtrusive life of total commitment was an example for all.
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