History

“Whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:15-16). Taking into heart the spirit of this word of God and with great desire to spread the faith what we have received to the other parts of our country, Sacred Heart Province Ernakulam carried the ‘Eternal Jyoti’to the Northern part of West Bengal among the tribals in Jalpaiguri Diocese and established its first convent at Demdima in 1968. In the following year missionaries were sent to central India in Raipur Diocese at Nandini. The pioneers had to undergo great hardships with regard to climate, culture, food and language. The heroic beginning produced visible and tangible results. The central team at Cenacle, Aluva was very keen and generous to extend the needful guidelines and encouragements to the missionaries time to time. The onward journey of Christu Jyoti missionaries were fastened by the Divine Providence of the Eucharistic Lord, along with the able leadership of the then Provincials of SH Province Ernakulam – Rev. Mother Grace, Rev. Mother Don Bosco, Rev. Mother Paschal, Rev. Mother Thecla, Rev. Mother Lambert and Rev. Mother Gregoria. 

“You are the light of the world…”. “Let your light shine”. By 1986 the ‘Jyoti’ of the Eucharistic Lord had extended its radiant light to U.P and Rajasthan having 13 convents and 69 missionaries. The then Provincial Rev. Mother Thecla and her team by their zealous effort made it to the status of Region, namely ‘Christu Jyoti Region’ and appointed Rev. Mother Virgin as the Regional Superior. Aradhana Nivas Nandini was made as the Regional House. Even before that we started to recruit candidates for this region and began to give formation for the missionaries in Nandini. The region grew fast and steadily under the strong supports of Mother Lambert and Mother Gregoria, the then Provincials of SH Province and by the tireless efforts of Mother Virgin and Mother Benedict the regional superiors.

Eventually Christu Jyoti region has grown into the maturity of a Vice Province having 17 convents and 112 sisters. The Provincial house at Pateri was blessed on 23 Oct.1997 by His Excellency Mar Abraham Mattam VC the then Bishop of Satna. On 28 March 1998 Mother Virgin was elected by the Provincial Synaxis as the First Provincial Superior and on 29 March 1998 the region was declared to the status of Vice Province by Rev Mother Thecla- the then superior General. Thereafter the journey continued under the meticulous guidance of Rev. Mother Avila, Rev. Mother Rosily and Rev. Mother Alphy. At present Christu Jyoti Province is carried out under the guidance of Rev. Mother Rose Therese Cheerakathil having 29 convents in the dioceses of Ajmer, Allahabad, Baruipur, Bijnor, Ernakulam, Jaipur, Jalpaiguri, Lucknow, Meerut, Nagpur, Raipur, Rottenburg (Germany) Satna, and Varanasi, with 141 sisters involved in various apostolic activities. We have Perpetual Adoration in Aradhana Bhavan Pateri, Samarpan Convent Bhilai, and in Cathedrals of Varanasi, Ajmer and Lucknow. Christu Jyoti Province, Satna celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the year of 2018, by cherishing the most beautiful time of God’s abundant blessings upon the Province and became ever memorable in its history. 

Imbibing the spirit of our motto, “Arise, Awake the world”, as we continue our journey, we thank and praise the Eucharistic Lord for He has been leading us towards new pastures, end- corners, and distant land to make known His presence. We join our hearts and minds with all those dear ones of God who strengthen and support us in all our missionary endeavors. May the Almighty God reward them a hundred fold.