Alverna

Address

Alverna, 5 Roads,
Yercaud – 636 601,
Salem Dt.,
Tamil Nadu,

Telephone: (04281) 223464,
E-mail : fsmconventyercaud@gmail.com.

No of Religious : 4

Services

It is in this mountainous region that the Lord was beckoning the FSM ever since we set foot at Salem. It was a fertile vineyard to work for the poor coolies of the coffee estates. In 1969 an invitation to take up the ESI hospital at Craigmore was welcomed and Srs. Mary Helena, Philomena and Prabha gave their services at the initial stage. The hospital was run as per the directions of the estate managers.

When the novitiate was in Salem, the novices had the grace of living for a month with the coolies in 1972 and 1973. Thanks to the goodness of Rev. Fr. Solomon, the manager of the Pondicherry estate, a bungalow was placed at our disposal and the exposure program was organized with the novices.

The contract with the diocese was for a period of five years at the end of which due to some inevitable reasons terminated in 1974

Later, the need of an implantation in Yercaud was felt and it was Most Rev. Bishop Singaroyan who accepted our desire to work there. On August 7, 2004, Srs. Mary Helena, Anthony Cruz, and Amalorpava Mary reached their new house and started the new mission. A little bungalow with a piece of land around it was bought and situated as it is on the top of the hill was named ‘Alverna’. At present, this house is shared by the sisters and 13 tribal children who go to a nearby school. The children are happy to find shelter, food and clothing with the loving care of the sisters..

Tribal women are taught tailoring and also participate in awareness programs. One of the sisters gives her services to the parish, in faith formation and other activities while one of them is employed as a warden in the hostel run by the Montfort Brothers.

The refrain of St. Francis: “Praise God for Sister Nature.” His spirit and the charism of Mother Foundress whose heart went out in compassion to the poor is a grace that is being lived at Alverna, meeting the challenges faced here.