NAZARETH SEVALAYA, DHARWAD
The Diocese of Belgaum constructed a beautiful Pastoral Centre (Sevalaya), which was inaugurated on 28th August 2006. The Bishop of Belgaum felt the need to request a religious Congregation to see to the administration and maintenance of the house. He put forward the proposal to the Superior General of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth.
GENESIS
The Bishop of Belgaum, Most Rev. Peter Machado seeing the great need of having Sisters at Sevalaya (a newly constructed Diocesan Pastoral Centre) in Dharwad for its administration and maintenance, approached the Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth, Sancoale, Goa with a request to start a community at Sevalaya, Dharwad. The Superior General studied the request of the Bishop, visited the place, saw the administrative ministries and expressed their willingness to accept the request of the Bishop.
FORMATION, NAME & WORKS OF THE COMMUNITY
After consenting to the need, the newly appointed Director Fr. Derek Fernandes requested the Superior General to take over at the earliest after the inauguration. Therefore 3 Sisters from 3 different Communities were consulted to take up the challenge of administering Sevalaya. Since the Diocesan Pastoral Centre was named Sevalaya, Sisters felt the need to keep their identity as Holy Family Sisters of Nazareth and therefore added Nazareth to Sevalaya. So a new community NAZARETH SEVALAYA, took birth. Sr. Emma Rebello, as the Animator with Sr. Anita Fernandes and Sr. Anita D’Silva as the members. One Sister assists in the Administration and maintenance of the house, One Sister assists in the Office of Sevalaya and One Sister monitors to the Mess. The pioneering Sisters had tough time in the beginning to set and equip the house with the required things.
INAUGURATION
27th September 2006 turned to be a remarkable day in the history of the Congregation of the Holy Family Sisters of Nazareth as a new community took birth. The name of the Institution itself describes that we are at the service of the people of God of all religions without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion etc. Our services are not restricted to Catholic religion neither only for diocesan programmes. When the Institution premises are free we accept programmes, seminars, workshops of other NGOs, Trusts and avail of our conference halls, dining hall, rooms for accommodation and also cater to the groups. People find it comfortable to have everything in one place therefore, the staff are always on their toes giving the best of service possible.
EXPOSURE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
“Variety is the spice of life” Being in this house is indeed a blessing to the Sisters as they are exposed to different kinds of people walking in as participants, resource persons etc. The Sisters are also having an exposure to different kinds of people living in today’s society. There are very many opportunities we got to observe the homosexuals and their living together, the gays, the eunuchs, the socially challenged (sex workers), the HIV patients, the T.B. patients, the mentally, physically challenged handicapped), the blind, the deaf and dumb, the rich, poor farmers, dairy workers, etc. Since the Institute is at the heart of the State of Karnataka, many prefer to choose Sevalaya to have their meetings and other programmes. There are State level programmes, national level programmes conducted here and its marvelous to see the variety.
WITNESS
The Holy Family Sisters extend their loving services, hospitality and make people feel at home so much so that they don’t feel like going back or come back for the next visit soon. We love and respect people of other faith and show no difference. Very many religious go to remote places for missionary work, the Nazarenes at Sevalaya create their own mission station in their own appointed tasks and interact with people and become exemplary witnesses through their own way of life in the house itself.
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