Diocese: Chingleput
Pioneers: Sisters Edwina Saldanha and Milly D’Souza
At the request of Archbishop Arul Das James of Madras- Mylapore Archdiocese, the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters landed at Pallikaranai in Valechery. Fr Vincent Monterio (brother of Sr Edilburga Monteiro) and Fr Vijay Kiran were instrumental in the process and in particular in selecting Pallikaranai as the base of the apostolic activity of the Sisters. Pallikaranai is 22 kms to the south Chennai.
The objective of their presence was to strive for holistic development of the marginalized, which they were to achieve through literacy and faith formation. To this effect, Sr Edilburga Monteiro, the Superior General, Sr Jyothi Fernandes, the Regional Superior of Mysore and Archbishop Arul Das signed an agreement on May 1, 1995. Sr Edwina Saldanha, a committed Sister and an experienced pioneer elsewhere and Sr Milly D’Souza were chosen as pioneers of the mission at Pallikaranai. They involved themselves in socio-pastoral apostolate; they also organized the youth. For their residence, they had a rented house close to the present residence. The residence served as a transit house for Sisters travelling to and from North-East India.
In the meantime, the Sisters purchased an acre of land in Pallikarnai. A convent building was constructed and Infant Jesus Convent was inaugurated on January 22, 1995. Simultaneously, the Sisters started a nursery class with thirty-five students on June 1, 1995. Pursuing scope for education, foundation stone was laid for Infant Jesus School in 1999. On December 21, 2000 Sr Jyothi Fernandes, the Provincial Superior inaugurated the school building and Bishop Lawrence Pius, Auxiliary bishop of Madras-Mylapore Diocese blessed it2. Sr Leena Mascarenhas blessed the newly added block of the school on November 7, 2005. To the dismay and contentment of the Sisters, in 2006 the first batch of students passed out of the portals of the school with SSL Certificate.
At the request of the people, the higher secondary section is being initiated in the school. Its foundation was laid on September 13, 2010 by Sr Jyothi Fernandes for the additional block. It was inaugurated by Sr Jyothi Fernandes, the Provincial Superior, and blessed by Bishop Neethinathan, the bishop of Chingleput in 2012.
The Sisters endeavour to give the best of academics to children. The education activity proves itself in its expansion in strength of students as well as academic excellence. Besides, pastoral work also has been given equal importance. Animation for Marian Sodality, catechism, choir, altar servers has been done. Ursuline Franciscan Lay Association has been started in the parish comprising 12 members.