FATIMA CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL
Fatima Convent High School is a convent school located in the city of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. The school is primarily run by Catholic nuns who live on the school campus itself. These dedicated nuns often came from European countries like Spain and made this tiny city their primary residence.
Type: Private
Established: Our Noble Pioneers
A call to work in a new Vineyard was answered by a group of five members of Carmelite Sisters of Charity.They left their motherland Spain and arrived on Indian soil on 7th feb 1953 and reached Bhavnagar on 12 th February.The names of the first noble pioneers are
Sr. Zoila Ganzarain,Sr. Pilar Navarrate,Sr.Asuncion Escayola,Sr.Maria Ricart and Sr.Elira Garcia.They fostered the idea of opening a School,but many hardships had to be endured and much spade work to be done before they could even make a start.To begin with,they had no house where to stay.Their actual house,in a most providential way from the good neighbour late Noutamalal Chunilal shah,was still under repairs.Warm hearts welcomed them around their homely fireside,as they were lovingly accomadated in the home of Mr.and Mrs.Henry Oss,the Div.Engineer then at Bhavnagar Para,former residents of Bhavnagar.
Together with Rev. Fr. Palau S.J. they made their plans and happily the day dawned when the first group of eager little pupils formed the nuclear cell of the future Fatima Convent High School-yet in its infancy,but gently guided by toil and love,this small group began to swell in number.By 1955 ,the School had grown and could boast of four classes.
With untiring zeal,this small group of Pioneers kept on shaping their ideal into a reality,having obtained the good will and warm welcome of the Educational Authorities specially Shri L.D.Sharma ,the Director of Education for Saurashtra and Shri Chhelshankar Ozza the Dt.Edu. Officer and other officials and good citizens of Bhavnagar,who were contacted by Rev.Fr.Palau S.J.Their generous co-operation accelerated progress in the development of the School which grew in height,strength and beauty.
The missionary zeal and spirit of the Pioneers,spread far and wide,bringing more hands to the field of labour.Thus in May 1955,a batch of Indian sisters left their homes and joined them. In 1956 Sr.Isabel Domingues and Sr.Itzier Arroyo from Spain were added to the number, there by bringing about a speedy fulfilment of their desires.
As the years rolled by, more members joined the staff. Students poured in far and near and by 1963, the School had developed into full fledged High School.
May they look back on their school days with pride and joy and never forget their Alma Mater.
They fixed their eyes on a distant horizon;it beckoned them with its sunday lights.
A Pioneer Carmelite Nun Passes Away
AHMEDABAD, Gujarat (SAR NEWS) -- Sister Sabina Mascarenhas, the first Indian candidate to join the Spanish Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna (CCV), died in Mumbai following a massive heart attack May 13. She was 72.
Sister Mascarenhas had served her congregation for 52 years in different fields like education, administration and formation of the youth in Gujarat. She worked till the last day of her life as secretary to the Provincial Sister Celine Paul at their Mother House, Shraddhasseri, Andheri East, Mumbai.
Sister Mascarenhas was born August 29, 1935, at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir State into a devout family from Goa state. She joined the CCV Sisters at Bhavnagar in 1955 after teaching for a few years at the congregation's Fatima School.
The Catholic nun had her earlier religious formation in Rome, Italy. On her return from Rome, she took up teaching again from 1962 at the Fatima High School, Bhavnagar. In 1973 she was appointed superior of their community at St. Xavier's Ladies' Hostel Ahmedabad, which housed hundreds of girls studying in St. Xavier's College Ahmedabad.
She has also worked in the socio-pastoral field in Modasa Mission and youth ministry at Vidyanagar in Anand, Gujarat state, for two years.
Anthem
IN JOY & HARMONY
IN JOY & HARMONY
WITH YOUR BANNERS UPRIGHT
& OUR FACES ALL BRIGHT
WE WANT TO SPREAD AROUND YOUR LIGHT.
FATIMA! FATIMA!
LOYAL SHALL WE BE TO YOUR HIGH IDEALS.
FATIMA! FATIMA!
WE SHALL PRIZE YOU ALL THROUGH LIFE
AS A MOTHER SO GOOD
YOU ARE GUIDING US TOO,
ON PATHS OF LOVE AND PEACE,
ON PATHS OF LOVE AND PEACE,
FOR OUR COUNTRY WE WILL LIVE
AND OUR LIVES WE WILL GIVE,
BUILDING EACH DAY A BETTER WORLD.
FATIMA! FATIMA!
LOYAL SHALL WE BE TO YOUR HIGH IDEALS.
FATIMA! FATIMA!
WE SHALL PRIZE YOU ALL THROUGH LIFE
