Missionaries of Charity, Chandigarh Foundation history st It was on the 31 May, 1976 that the first batch of MC's arrived in Chandigarh by the request of Bp. Gilbert B. Rego, Bishop of Simla Chandigarh Diocese. They had Holy Mass and blessing on the same day. They were living in a rented house in Sector 34, from where they started their work for the poor-a School in a slack at Sector 26 was started for slum children and the sisters were rendering medical aid to the sick poor patients in the Guru Nanak Colony (Near Central Jail), sector 26. To be able to serve the poorest of the poor in a better way, a permanent residence was sought. God in his great love for His Poor, answered the prayers of the sisters and a piece of land
was leased out with the efforts of Mother Teresa and the D.C. Mr. M. G. Devasahayam, who also helped in getting the materials for the building. The cost for putting up the building was met mainly by the Mother House, but the people of Chandigarh were also very generous in helping in cash and in kind. Our Home in Sector 23-A, was formally declared open by Mother on 24th July, 1978 with a prayer. As we had completed the new building in 1980, our Mother specially wanted this home should be for the mentally retarded handicapped orphans, and also old and destitute. Mother had visited Chandigarh a few times and in one of her visits she met the Chandigarh hotel management people and requested to provide a meal for our home, and till today 12 Restaurants and Hotels provide meals for our children. Our Mother's last visit was in 1987. That time, Mother stayed three days and met many well-wishers of Chandigarh and Mother was very happy to see the improvement of
the home and the generous people of Chandigarh coming and sharing the work of love and helping the sisters to do in a better way and today Chandigarh citizens are proud of our home. Since we are in the heart of the city, poor and rich come to the home and the main gate of the home is open all the day, and the faith of the people is tremendous and in giving help to the home is great. On 13th July 1985, THE AZAD HIND CULTURAL SOCIETY, CHANDIGARH honored the Home for the th well establishment and management of the Home. Again on 26 Jan 1997, the Punjab Governor and the Chandigarh Administrator awarded a certificate to us for the outstanding service rendered to the humanity. Our home is the power house of prayer. Everyday our disabled mentally retarded children have one hour Adoration and pray the rosary with singing and pray for the people who have asked them to pray, each day they have their own prayer. Our home always is blessed with so many children and patients. In 1996, the first batch of handicapped children got first time admission in the Govt. School and also for the mentally retarded children, the Chandigarh Administration is giving free education and bus for them to go to school. Our mentally retarded children received many prizes for their study, cleanliness, sports and cultural programs etc. Since 1998 onwards the Govt. B. Ed college students and staff have given many occupational courses and training to our mentally retarded children and patients, twenty-five B.Ed students come daily to teach our School going children and others too. Besides this, the Art College students and Home Science students too come to teach our patients who are at Home. We are really proud of our home; a music teacher from the college comes and teaches the music and she has given simple instruments which our children are able to play today. Our disabled children are able to sing for Mass and for other occasions. Chandigarh fathers and the parishioners and all who come to our
home admire the way the children sing and pray. Even we have trained how to say small prayers on special occasions so our daily Mass is fully alive. On our Golden Jubilee our children played the instruments and sang. On some special occasions our Parish Priest asks our children to conduct the choir. We really thank God for our children, the home and our society. Yes God is using each of us to do something beautiful for His poor. st On 1 January 2000, the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Mr. Jacob visited our Home and praised the works of Missionaries of Charity and gifted to us Rs.50000/-(fifty thousand) and distributed 50 good blankets to the patients and spent two hours with us in the home and played with our children. Every day people come to help us in our daily work most of the meals are given by the people and they spent some time to pray in our Chapel. Often the people share that they find happiness, peace and joy. When they come to our home, they are ready to help us at any time. On 31st May 2001, the Home celebrated the Silver Jubilee. We thank our Mother and all the sisters who have worked hard for the Home and its establishments. We remember all of them and pray for the abundant blessings on all of them. Sr. Danietta MC, Superior, Chandigarh Community
Missionaries of Charity, Ambala Foundation history With the request of the then Bishop of Simla in 1959 and the local parish priest requesting the Missionaries of Charity to start a home in Simla for the care of the poor people living in slums in Simla. On 23rd April 1961, Sr.Agnes accompanied a group of six sisters to Simla and due to severe cold, the poor people were not to be found in winter and in summer they were once again found in Simla. Because there was no work for the sisters in Simla, Mother Teresa decided to close down the house but Bishop requested them to take care of the poor people at Ambala, a town situated in plains. Sisters started to find the poor people in the slums who were engaged in selling the bones of the dead animals and other simple work. Sisters started to teach them and began their mobile clinics as well. They went around the slums of the city and catered to the medical aid of the poor people. Girls were taught sewing, short hand, and typing. Through the mercy of God, the sisters got a house in Cantonment Area. In course of time, a Shishu Bhavan was opened for the malnourished children and the sisters dedicated themselves for the service of the humanity. Today so many people are being rendered selfless service and are taken care by the sisters.
Missionaries of Charity, Panipat Foundation history It was in 1982, when Mother was visiting Chandigarh that the Governor of Haryana H.E. Mr. S.H. Burnir invited her to open more house in Haryana. However it was only in 1985 that the Deupty Commissioner of Karnal was able to arrange temporary accommodation for the sisters in the Quilla - the old Muncipal house in Painpat. The inauguration was on Oct 14th 1985. Sr. Jyoti Sr. Karipa and two junior sisters began caring for the mentally challenged children - four of them from Govt. Home in Karnal. Mother visited the place on Feb. 15, 1987 and Sri Bansi Lal, the Chief Minister promised Mother 11/2 acres, of land for the children and the dying destitutes, Mr. Gulati, the Superintendent of the Blind School in Panipat got the Social welfare Department to pay 5 ½ lakhs to Huda for the plot of land in the Huda colony - it was not allotted as it was found to be under dispute. In May 1990 the sisters were asked to vacate the place and the DC promised to pay the rent for a temporary accomdation. Sr. Odile, who was then Superior, continued with regular visits to officals in Panipat, Karnal and Chandigarh. It was only at the end of 1991 that through the personal intervention of Bishop Rego that the plot was at last allotted. Mr. Ram Dandona prepared the building plans and the construction began in January 1992. Sr Helen came from Delhi to supervise it. Coming each day from the rented house, she stood for hours in the sun and rain directing the work. In March 1993 the sisters were able to move in the convent. The Construction of the N.H. began in May 1993 with Mr. Sadar Singh taking up the contract. Sr. Helen continued the construction supervision of the building and the garden. Sr. James, Sr. Mamta, Sr. Marie Christina, Sr. Marie Bernadette, Sr. John Britto and later Sr. Bade tried to build the apostolate, mobile dispensaries, family visiting, Malnutrition center etc. The Building was inaugurated on the 3rd of July 1994. His grace Bishop Rego unveiled the picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and blessed the Home, Mr. Kalra cut the ribbon. Nirmal Hriday means pure Heart and is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary - a home for the sick and the dying destitutes where the sisters render tender love and care, seeing in their disguise the image and likeness of God-the person of Jesus who said "what you do to the least of my brother you do to me."