Superior
2020-2023
St Raymond's Convent, Chempanoda 2021-2022
Sr Sandhya Jose BS
Superior
Members of the Community
Convent building
St Raymond's Hostel Girls - Chempanoda
Chempanoda- Students
Club activities - Chempanoda
Prayer day for the staff - Chempanoda
St Raymond’s Convent Chempanoda is situated in the district of Calicut, a place known for the lofty coconut trees raising their heads making the place teeming with vegetation, enough to entice the heart and spirit of any beholder. The area centred round two villages of Marudonkara and Chempanoda, is inhabited by the oldest settlers of Malabar region.
The people of this area longed for an English Medium School that would open a way for their children to enter the world of science and technology. Impressed by the selfless and untiring service of BethanySisters, Rev. Fr Joseph Mannur, the then vicar of Marudonkara, invited the Bethany Sisters to make the dream of his parishioners come true. Keeping in mind the spirit of our Founder, and reading the signs of the times, St Raymond’s Convent was erected in the Syrian Rite Diocese, on 1st May 2002 during a prayer hour in which Most Rev. Dr Paul Chittilapalli, the Bishop of Thamarassery, participated. Sr Lillis BS, the Assistant Superior General, read out the decree of erection on behalf of Sr Jyoti, the Superior General. The pioneering members were Sr Annie Francis (Superior), Sr Georgita (Principal), Sr Alphonsa, Sr Anugraha, Sr Joswin Rose, and Sr Vinitha Priya, as members. Apart from the ministry in the school, the convent also extends its service to the parish through various apostolate, such as, family visits and pastoral and palliative care.
Educational Apostolate:
On 3rd June 2002, the English medium school started to function with 450 students, in a diocesan building to begin with, near Marudonkara Church until new building was blessed on 8th January 2003. This is the first institution that named after our beloved Fr Founder. The Sisters had to work very hard in the initial stages since the students came from unrecognized schools of the surrounding villages and also from Malayalam medium schools. At present 840 on its roll and the number keeps on increasing year after year. All the batches that appeared for the Board Examinations have come out with flying colours securing 100% result which was unusual for any school in the vicinity.
Pastoral apostolate:
All the members of the community are actively involved in pastoral apostolate, such as preparing children for holy communion, BCC units prayer, regular house visit, visiting and praying with the sick in the parish, participate in the funeral ceremony, distributing Holy communion, teaching catechism, youth ministry etc. The pious associations like altar boys, KCYM, Holy Childhood, also taken care by the sisters. The sisters also take different ways and means for the character formation of the youth and the children.
Hostel Apostolate:
In order to offer educational facilities to the children from far away villages, the hostel facility is offered. Since the management provides school bus, presently we accommodate only those children from far off places where there are no vehicle facilities. At present, we have six students under the guidance of Sr Neethu NP, the hostel warden. We provide them family atmosphere and are concerned of their faith formation and moral life.
At present Sr Deena John (Superior) Sr Georgita, Sr De Sales, Sr Nirmal Joy (Principal) Sr Jocelyn and Sr Neethu are successfully incorporating the charism and spirituality of the Founder in the mission of Bethany. The Sisters also take adequate care in helping the poor students of this locality.
Year of establishment – 01.05.2002