Biratnagar
St. Mary's Biratnagar-2007
Beginnings:- St. Mary's Biratnagar was established in 2007 at the request of the local people. Sr. Asha CJ one of the pioneering members of the mission, initially stayed with the late Mr. Vincent Pokharel, a lay Marianist, in his house. The school began in a rented house and was later moved to Shankarpur, a semi-urban area. The pioneering sisters were Srs. Asha (community animator), Veronica, and Jessy. The school started with L.K.G. and U.K.G., with a total of 23 students.
Sr. Asha recounts the early days: "A gentleman showed me six houses, but none were suitable for starting a school. Eventually, we found a house near a large water tank in the town of Biratnagar. Sr. Margaret Mary, the then Regional Superior, came from Kathmandu and approved the location. I believe the gentleman who helped was St. Joseph himself…Today, it is a full-fledged school with classes up to XII, serving about 1200 students."
Pioneers: Srs. Asha, Jessy & Veronica
Current Members: Srs. Rufina, Margaret Mary, Marilyn, & Polrani Ghale
Ministries
1. Education Ministry
Education is the primary apostolate. The school serves the local community, providing a valuable educational resource. All four sisters in the community are actively involved in the school and also visit the families of students and the sick.
Activities in the School:
After years of initial challenges, the school has grown to include Plus Two. We host annual events such as Parents' Day, Sports Day, and exhibitions. Our students participate in activities organized by the municipality, including Women's Day and Environment Day. We offer free karate training and have students who are members of the Bal Club, a governmental organization under the municipality. Additionally, we provide training in table tennis, which has brought recognition to the school. This school is one of the prominent institutions in Province 1.
F.M.W Unit:
Some of our teachers and students are members of the F.M.W., making it an active and vibrant group. They reach out to the poor and marginalized by providing food and clothing three times a year.
Pastoral Ministry:
One of the sisters teaches Catechism in the parish. While our sisters have primarily been involved in parish work, the Bethany sisters, who are currently residing in the school compound, have recently taken over some of these responsibilities. The superior of the community takes care of the accounts of the Parish.
- Nepal Region 2020