URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA

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URSULINE CONVENT RANCHI

The Loreto Nuns, Mother Teresa Bonner, Mother Gertrude O'Reilly and two companions who arried at Ranchi on March 21, 1890, resided in the "Red Lodge" in the present campus at Purulia Road Ranchi.  To impart education they opened their door to girls who hailed from Ranchi, Dighia, Torpa, Khunti, Noatoli and Biru.  The campus was shared by Sisters of the Daughters of St. Anne.  The Ursulines took over the educational work from the Loreto Sisters. 
 

Starting with the Primary School

When the Ursulines arrived in Ranchi in 1903, the school was actually only a catechumenate where girls were admitted and allowed to stay until they married.  The courses given consisted of religious instruction, gardening, needlework, singing and cultivation of flowers.  There was just one exception - a class called class I where a dozen girls learned the 3 r's.  The other girls were also taught the alphabet during 1/3 of the year and then they forgot it when they were at home, the rest of the year.  They usually came back every year to relearn the alphabet and then to forget it again!  The Daughters of St. Anne were their teachers.  As the Ursuline Missionary Sisters did not know Hindi, the teaching was done by the Sisters of St. Anne and the Ursulines took charge of the meals, recreations, needlework, singing and manual work.

It was impossible for the Sisters in the beginning to control the 300 or more girls who were there.  The Sisters paid for their food, clothes, laundry, oil etc.  This had to be done to attract the girls.  It was not unusual for 10 or 20 of them at a time to run away when they felt like.  They would then come back on some feast day and again stay for a while.

By 1907, the Primary School at Ranchi was on a level with the Primary Schools in Belgium and the Government awarded a grant of Rs. 40/- per month.

The Lace School for Women 

Lace-making in Ranchi was started in 1904, though there was no expert teacher.  Still some lace work could be sold to the English ladies living in Ranchi.  What a boon to the local Adivasi women that with the arrival of Sister Johanny from Belgium in December 1905, half a dozen women could learn the art very soon.  By Easter 1906, there were 40 women at work and the number went on increasing.  Early that year, the Ursulines took possession of the new Convent building in Ranchi and the 'Red Lodge' was left entirely at the disposal of the Daughters of St. Anne.

It is interesting to note that Lace making was introduced in the school as extra curricular activity.  The girls were found to be very proficient in this.  By 1907 the Lace School was given a grant of Rs. 50/- per month by Government.  It developed so much that 75 women were at work, earning their liveli-hood.

The Lace School building at Ranchi having become too small to accommodate the ever-increasing number of workers, a spacious building was needed.  The Government readily contributed half the cost and the building was erected in 1908.  Mother Angela, an English Sister was called from Tongo to take charge of the Lace School.

In 1912, Mother Anthony build a multi-purpose hall in Ranchi which was used by the parish as well.  This was the biggest hall in Ranchi which cost Rs. 9000/-.

May 14, was a great day for Ranchi Academic School and Lace school.  They had the great honour of receiving Sir Charles Stuart Bagley K.C.S.I., the first Governor of the two States, then called Bihar and Orissa.  The reception given by the school girls consisting of addresses, songs and recitations in different local languages was exceptionally good.  The Governor wrote in the "Visitors' Book" a very good appreciation of the reception given by the Upper Primary School girls.  He was happy to watch the women at work in the Lace School.  A practical outcome of the visit of His Excellency was an important order placed for lace work and henceforth, the women in the Lace School would be requested to embroider all the Government House linen.

Government Sadar Hospital

On March 1, 1916, the Sisters took official possession of "St. Joseph Bungalow" in the Ranchi Government Hospital campus.  Mother Henrietta and Mother Sophie were put in charge of the hospital work.  In the beginning, they had to face difficulties on account of the caste-system, but the tact, kindness and patience of the Sisters won the hearts of the patients and soon the number of both indoor and outdoor patients started increasing.  Malaria, Scarlet fever, Typhoid and Cholera caused endless misery.  The Sisters have been heroic and did not escape the contagion themselves, one became ill with typhoid and the other had smallpox.  As soon as they recovered they were back at their work.

It was a matter of great joy indeed of seeing the name of Mother Henrietta on the list of Distinctions conferred in India on the occasion of the Birthday of Emperor George V., on June 3, 1925.

This Distinction was usually reserved for Philanthropists, both British and Indian and this year, a Missionary was among the chosen few.  This medal was awarded for outstanding service rendered especially among the poorer classes in the field of medicine, social service, public assistance etc.  Mother Henrietta was in charge of the State Hospital at Ranchi and had acted with true heroism during an epidemic of Cholera.

The Senior Teachers' Training School

On the request of Msgr. Sevrin, a Senior Training Class for Teachers was started on January 11, 1937 at Ranchi for the girls who had passed the Middle School.  It began with 5 girls and Mother Margaret McDonnell was their teacher.  For the first time, on September 23, the electricity was installed in the Convent.  The school had it already installed two months previously.

By 1939, the Ursuline Convent, Ranchi compound had become too congested.  It was rather small for the great number of pupils.  The then Msgr. decided to build a separate Convent for the Sisters of St. Anne on the grounds of the old presbytery.  The building would be ready to receive the Sisters at the re-opening of the schools in January.  On January 9, the New Class X started with 6 pupils.  Its recognition was received from Patna on March 21.

In 1966 a nine months Montessory training course was started.  In 1962 the senior teachers' training school was shifted from Ranchi to Lohardaga.  

The first Catholic Women's College

In July 1949, at the request of Msgr. Sevrin, a University College for girls was started in the Ursuline Convent, campus.  The first year I.A. classes started with 40 students.  Mother Dionyse De Bruyn as Principal, took English classes; Mother Tarcisia and Miss Magdali Barla, Geography, Mother Augusta, Physiology and Domestic Science; Mother Alice, Psychology, Mother Mary Magdalen Alexander, History and Economics; Miss T. Almeida, English; mother Gertrude, Secretary; For Hindi and Bengali, lay professors were appointed.  The following year girls from different parts of the country joined the college and hostel accommodation was also provided.

After four years of smooth running of the Ursuline College, orders from the University were received to close the college and merge with St. Xavier's Jesuit College.  The reason was that a Government Women's College was coming up in the town.

From the new College session of July 1953 St. Xavier's College graciously opened the door to welcome the girl students.  But for first year girl students, classes were being held in the Ursuline class rooms for a few years.  Mother Tarcisia, Mother Xavier and Mother Georgine were on the staff of St. Xavier's.

Mother Dionyse continued the office business affairs for the girls and the hostel in close collaboration with Father Principal of St. Xavier's College and other office bearers for several years.

The hostel for College girl students remains a vibrant apostolate upto this day.