HISTORY OF DINA SEVANA SABHA (DSS)
who we are
The Congregation was founded exclusively for the upliftment and the liberation of the Poor. The Charism of the Congregation is “Upliftment of the Poor” and the Motto is “Service in Charity and Poverty”. The prime focus of our apostolate is the poor, marginalized, and downtrodden in society. The members of the community lead a very simple life and dedicate their human and material resources for the integral growth and the well-being of the poor with a special focus on women, children, and the destitute.
Dina Sevana Sabha is a Catholic Association for the upliftment of the poor, has been registered under the Societies Registration Act XX1 of 1860, S. No. 43 of 1970, and is a society registered under Section 12 A of the Income–Tax Act, 1961, 0n 15th March, 1978.
Dina Sevana Sabha (DSS) started as a pious union in the diocese of Calicut with the approval and the blessing of the then Bishop, late Rt. Rev. Dr. Aldo Maria Patroni S.J., it was raised to the status of a diocesan Congregation on 21st September 1983 by His Excellency. Rt. Rev. Dr. Maxwell Noronha, the then Bishop of Calicut. It was raised to the status of Pontifical Right on 2nd February 2003.
Charism
The Charism of our Congregation is service of the poor. The specific aim of the Congregation is to continue the Evangelical Mission of Christ by rendering services, both material and spiritual, to the poor, especially to those living in remote rural areas.
“Service in Charity and Poverty” constitutes the pillars of the Congregation. The identity of the congregation can be expressed in Mother Petra’s words as the one who is called to be with the poor, for the poor, and like the poor. Keeping this unique mission, the members make an additional promise to the serve the poor as our fourth vow.
What it means
EMBLEM
The emblem is well with the spirit of our Congregation. The letters DSS are the abbreviation of the Congregation Dinasevanasabha, and S C P (Service in Charity and Poverty) constitute the pillars of the Congregation and summarize the nature of our Charism. Folded hands and Cross stands for constant prayer from where we get energy to accept the daily cross that comes to our life when we live our Charism. Through constant prayer and suffering, we aim at self-sacrifice. No crown without a cross. Diya stands for the mother earth.
Helping Hands
Mother Petra, an extraordinary woman with a clear vision and strong will, came down from Kurusumala, the Tabore of her life. She travelled far and wide in Kerala, visited every nook and corner of the remote villages. She was deeply moved by the situations of the poor and desired to become a Good Samaritan in their lives. Even with the inner conflicts, confusion, and struggles, she continued her journey in search of a suitable soil to sow the seed of her mission. Many Bishops extended a cordial welcome to begin her work in their dioceses. Meanwhile, Mother Petra visited Bishop Aldo Maria Patroni, the Bishop of the Diocese of Calicut, who directed her to Fr. Zucol, an Italian Jesuit Missionary working at Chirakal mission. There she came across the misery of the poor and the marginalized. Here she conceived the idea of social apostolate for the upliftment and the integral liberation of the poor and the downtrodden.
Heritage:
We share the God experience of our Foundress Mother Petra which consists of seeking the will of God in all circumstances, Contemplative spirituality developed from the Word of God, spiritual commitment with the Lord in the Holy Eucharist and contemplation of the holy face of Jesus on the cross which enables the Dinadasis to see the disfigured face of Christ in the poor whom we serve, accept the sufferings and lead a sacrificial life, complete dependency on God and trusting in the Providential care of God, immense devotion and closeness to Jesus in the Eucharist, simplicity in life, hard work, a life of poverty, imitating Jesus, the Servant (one who washed the feet of His Disciples) through our service, serve the poor with compassionate love, become one among them and abide by the teachings of the Church.
The spirit of St. Francis Assisi (simple life, hard work, severe poverty, deep prayer life and Eucharistic centered life) and the missionary zeal of St. Angela Merici ie, the upliftment of the poor, dedicated service for the Church and the needy without considering the caste, creed, and religion, Dinasevanasabha took its form as a sprouting seed in the Merician family.
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Mission
To serve the less
privileged with the compassionate
love of Christ
Vision
Dignify the marginalized and downtrodden and promote equality and Justice to create a common brotherhood as children of God. Be a prophet for the voiceless, for the proclamation of the Good News.
800+
Transformed Lives
82
Current Residents
Vision to Sanctuary -DSS Kothanur
Dina Sevana Sabha (DSS) had the great desire to start a substation in and around Bangalore. Being a great city, it was necessary that we have a house there. Mother Willigard, in her tenure as Mother General, felt that it was very urgent to start a convent in Bangalore. She went to the Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Susaipakya Arogyaswamy was told that the permission for establishment would not be granted before purchasing a property.
The registration of the land was done on 19th December 1981. In the beginning, the sisters stayed with the Seva Nilaya sisters. The convent was inaugurated on January 24th, 1982, on the feast of St. Francis De Sales, the patron of Dina Nilaya convent. The very first community consisted of Sr. Naomy the superior, Sr. Evangeline & Sr. Sathyalatha. Sisters got the permission from the Bishop only on February 6th, 1982, to start the convent in Bangalore.
Activities in the Beginning:
The sisters were going on cycles to the villages and learned about the life situations there. Realizing the necessity of an active involvement and guidance, they started the CRS programme. Now it has developed into Swashraya Sangams. The people did not have a hygienic atmosphere in the villages. They never bothered to have a bath and looked shabby in appearance. Sisters were easily accepted by them. They threw mud at the sisters, and even came to the convent and threw mud through the windows. However, the sisters kept their tolerance and oriented them, and they gradually realized the value of the presence of the sisters and started loving and respecting the sisters.
In the beginning, sisters were doing the mobile clinic service in quarries by travelling in the stone lorries and giving first aid to the workers. The dispensary, kindergarten, and tailoring centres were built in 1985. During this year, Sisters had one dispensary and two clinics in the villages. Also, Sisters used to go to the quarry to give medicine. Pallottine priests were very close to the Sisters and helped them through spiritual classes and singing practices. Sisters were arranging for daily Mass in the parish. Maintaining the cleanliness of the Church, visiting the people, especially the sick, assisting the needy by our moral support were other areas of our pastoral involvement. In the year 1984, Sisters started a nursery school, and Sr. Maria Jose and Sr. Johanna were appointed in charge of it. Tailoring classes for the girls were started. During this time, the language of love made them do heroic works among human hearts, which is cherished until now. The zealous work in the dispensary, mobile clinic, parish ministry, farm, tailoring centres, nursery, V Guard centre, etc. Brought the sisters as a transformation to the people of Kothanur and the surrounding areas.
Sr. Gabriela came to Kothanur on 13th June 1999, took charge as superior. Mother Willigard, Srs. Hanna, Rudolfa, Veronica, Albina, Little Maria, Reena, Premalatha, Kiran, Clare, Anitta, and Rudia (short time) were the community members. It is a memorable time because the sisters renovated the old farmhouse as a beautiful convent building. The sheet house was demolished on 21st September 1999, and the construction of the new building was started with the assistance of Mother Willigard and Sr. Gabriela. The construction was done with the permission of Sr. Holda, the Superior General. We remember the Pallottine fathers and Norbertine fathers for their timely support and guidance in spiritual assistance.
Blessing of the newly constructed Convent at Kothanur
22nd October 1999, the day set aside for the blessing of the convent, was a day of tension and anxiety, because the parish priest was against the bishop coming to the convent. However, by the grace of God, Arch Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Ignatius Pinto blessed the convent in the presence of all high police officials, many fathers, sisters, and the people of the locality. Mother Willigard, Sr. Vandana who became the administrator of DSS after the demise of Sr. Holda, Sr. Ishobala the General Councillor, Sr. Dilari the Regional Superior of Nirmala region.
Many of our sisters and novices, and late Msgr. Honuld from Pallotti Nilaya witnessed the gracious occasion. The function went on well, and all were very happy that the DSS sisters have a proper convent building. As soon as the V-guard centre was closed, the candidates of the first batch of the Nirmala Region were accommodated there for training. It was a happy day for our Region when 13 aspirants and Sr. Reena as their mistress arrived on 22nd September 2000. Mother Willigard shifted her residence from Petra Nilaya to Dina Nilaya on April 18th, 2000.