Auxilium Barasat, 1991


Auxilium Barasat, 1991

Auxilium Convent School

Taki Road – Simultala.

Barasat H.P.O. 700124

West Bengal

Brief History

It was in 1990, during the office tenure of the Provincial Sr. Genevieve Battigelli and her council sought the permission of the archbishop of Calcutta Most Rev. Henry D’Souza to buy a plot of land at Taki Road, Barasat, for the purpose of beginning a Provincial center for the formation of candidates to religious life, a Bengali medium school as well as an English medium school if necessity arises. Sisters from the community of auxilium, Dum Dum frequently monitored the construction work of the boundary wall and the initial renovation of the existing house to befit the future residence of the sisters. Sr.Teresa medvesek and Sr.Annie Kannanpuzha are among those who did the ground work at the initial stage while the pioneering was directed by Sr.Gemma Liberalesso, who indeed gave shape to the completion of a gigantic infrastructure for education and formation.

From August 1990, the community of Dum Dum had been running a nursery section in English medium with 13 children in the morning hours and a section in Bengali medium with 19 children in the afternoon hours. Sr.Elizabeth Makil was the first person who saw to the initial stage of the school which was an existing shed adjusted into class rooms; it continued up to June 1991.

The first community began residing in the house and was blessed by Rev.Fr.Richard Saldhana, parish priest of St.Patrick’s church, DumDum, on 16 June1991. Sr. Juliana Rozario was the first animator of the community and in charge of school. The other members were Sr.Teresa Medvesek, the vicar; Sr.Elizabeth Tigga, the assistant of the boarders and Sr.Alphonsa Kachappilly, the administrator. These pioneers began the Auxilium Convent Barasat with a vision to commence :

  • A boarding house for the poor and needy children of Calcutta
  • A co-ed primary school for the children of the locality
  • Professional centre for the marginalized youth and women
  • Spirituality centre, for youth meetings, Seminars, Retreats

On the same day the portals of this newly blessed house was open to the first group of boarders. They were 25 little girls from the neighborhood slums of Auxilium Park Circus, carefully primed by our sisters, through evening coaching classes; to fit in classes of K.G and I accordingly.

April 1992 saw the closure of the Bengali medium school due to less number of children owing to numerous Bengali medium schools in the vicinity. However, the English medium school continued to grow in number and demand.

The year 1994 saw the number of children increasing in the school and new class V had eleven students. The boarders’ number reached 50 and the need for a bigger space was keenly felt and thus a new foundation was initiated. A new assistant to the boarders, From April 1996, Class V was discontinued due to the problem parents had to face to get admission in other schools after class V.

On 27th July 1998 a survey conducted in the village of Bamunmura, by the educating community revealed a stark reality that majority the children do not attend any school. The community arranges for a coaching class from 2.30- 4.00p.m. 20 children began attending the afternoon classes from today. Sr.Esther Rani and Miss Protima Naskar make their classes very interesting to these poor and neglected but intelligent children.

On 24th March 2000, the foundation stone for the new school building was laid and thus the long desired dream of the parents of Auxilium Barasat, to have the school upgraded to a Higher secondary school. On 9th November 2004 we received the affiliation certificate from the Council for the Indian Certicate of Secondary Education (ICSE). There was great joy among the students, teachers and sisters when the news came in. All paused for a thanksgiving prayer to God for arranging all these good things for us.

Major Intervention

  • Higher secondary school (English medium)
  • Boarding
  • VTC - Tailoring, Spoken English, computer
  • Neighborhood Children’s Parliament