The 'Hospicio' was founded by a pious priest, Fr. Joao Miranda seeing to the health care needs of the poor people. It was run by private management. On the 2nd of August in 1934 the Archbishop of Goa and Daman oriental Patriarch made an earnest request to the Provincial Superior of Mangalore, Sr. Esther Pichiali to send the sisters to serve in the ‘Hospicio’. In the month of October of the same year fourteen Sisters of Charity were sent to Margao and the community was erected. The ten pioneers were Italian sisters. Later when they were gradually superannuated, Indian sisters replaced them. In 1977 due to increase of patients and staff leading to financial crises the hospital was handed over to the State Government.
Our community of Hospicio is housed in the hospital premises, ‘Sisters Quarters’. It is situated in the heart of the city of Margao in Salcete, South Goa. It functions under the Arch Diocese of Goa and belongs to the Holy Spirit Parish, which is the largest in the Diocese having around 2510 catholic families. Now we are only three members in the community, two sisters work in the hospital and one sister is engaged in the household work. We try our best to be the extensions of Jesus’ passionate love to our sick and suffering brethren, meeting not only their physical needs but also emotional and spiritual. We also look after the hospital chapel where we have the Eucharistic celebration every Sunday and first Friday. Besides we teach catechism, assist at the charitable dispensary run by the Carmelite priests and visit families, the home for rest for the clergy and elderly, trying to brighten up the lives of our brothers and sisters.
The Panchwadi mission was started in 1988 at the request of the then Parish Priest for the work of evangelization, education and human promotion. At the start the Sisters of Maria Bambina Convent, Cuncolim and Hospicio - Margao, rendered their service to the Parish at week ends. After due study of the mission, the community of Mea Niketan was canonically erected by the then Provincial Superior of Secunderabad Province, Sr. Mary Anne Theodore on 31st May 1989 with a team of 4 sisters - Sr. Alessia, Sr. Sofia, Sr. Fatima Texeira with Sr. Luisa Rebeiro as its first Superior.
The community of Mea Niketan is in the remote village of Panchwadi, which is situated on the bank of a tributary of river Zuari, South west of Goa in Ponda Taluka. This village is a strip of land of about 9 kms. consisting of fields, hills and forests. It is a developing village having 900 Catholic families with a total population of about 8,500 which includes some Hindus and a few Muslims. Majority of the people belong to the middle class, while others are economically poor. Illiteracy, unemployment, alcoholism, broken families and poverty are the major problems prevalent in this village. There are a few seamen and a good number of women working abroad, leaving their children under the care of their husbands or other relatives. As a result, children lack the love of their fathers/mothers or both. There are a few school dropouts due to various reasons. People here are mainly mining truck owners. The other occupations are tailoring, catering, driving, fishing and farming.
Five sisters are involved in teaching in the Diocesan School. The presence of the Institute is a boon to the villagers. The sisters educate the children, impart Faith Formation and help in Pastoral Ministry.
Cuncolim is historically known for the martyrdom of the four Jesuits (Rudolph Acquaviva and companions) who came to evangelize the people. Situated in the heart of the vast village of Cuncolim (Salcette) south of Goa, and a few furlongs from the Margao-Karwar National Highway, our community came into existence in 1946 to cater to the educational needs of the village. Today this village is more of a mini town with all the facilities available: hospital, doctors, banks, market, schools and colleges. Home to people of various religions, especially to Christians, Hindus and Muslims we are called to reach out to children from all strata of society. Most people are educated but the society is faced with challenges of unemployment, disoriented youth, alcoholism, drug abuse, broken marriages, uncared aged. The Catholics who are there are not very strong in their faith as can be seen by their daily life-style. There is also a continuous inflow of migrant workers owing to the establishment of the Industrial Estate. We cater to around 1500 children on an average in our institution which houses nursery and, pre-primary school, primary, middle and high school and also a higher secondary school. We have an equal number of Christians and Hindus. Under the patronage of Maria Bambina we respond to the signs of the times giving importance to inculcating human, moral and religious values to our students. Presently we are 10 sisters rendering our services in the field of education and pastoral care through involvement in the parish which is in the vicinity.
