Bethany Convent, Green Park, Extension New Delhi (29.06.1993)
Bethany Sisters were invited to Delhi in 1993 by Most Rev Alan De Lastic, the Archbishop of Delhi, and Fr Vincent Concessao, the then Vicar General and later on the Bishop of Delhi Diocese. They sought the Bethany sisters to serve at Sahodaya Senior Secondary School founded in 1976 by Most Rev Angelo Fernandes, the Archbishop of Delhi. This school had a unique concept of education enabling the rich and the poor to study together following special study techniques and slab system in school fees.
However, in 1993 the Bishop felt the need for Bethany Sisters to serve in this school to enable the system work better. Therefore, Sr Miriam BS, the Provincial Superior, sent Sr Grace Maria BS and Sr Nicoline BS to serve at Sahoday School. They stayed in a flat owned by the Congregation and along with Sr Erasma BS and Sr Mariette BS, theology students at Vidya Jyothi, formed the first Bethany Community in Delhi. Sr Grace Maria, the Principal and Sr Nicoline, the Convent in-charge and Headmistress worked with much dedication and commitment and helped to restructure the school and the consecutive Managers and the Principals enabled Sahoday to be one of the top schools in the capital state of Delhi. Since 1998 it has become a co-educational school. Large number of migrant’s children are admitted to this school making education affordable for all at a low cost in the large city of Delhi.
Large number of extension programmes is carried on by the sisters. Education at St Josephu2019s Convent school goes beyond the school walls. From the initial stage onwards village development programme and medical services have been undertaken with trained Social and Medical workers assisting in it. Today, 18 villages and three slums are privileged to have SHG programme, Domestic workers forum, Childrenu2019s Parliament and Kishori group that trains teen agers to be responsible adults. Village exposure programme creates a social consciousness in the students.
