The Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne (DSA) Ranchi is the local Congregation, founded by Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta on 26th July 1897 along with three companions namely Sr. Cecilia, Sr. Veronica and Sr. Mary.
In 1885 Fr. Constant Lievens, S.J., the great apostle of Chotanagpur landed in Ranchi as a Zealous missionary. The advent of this Belgian Jesuit marks the beginning of the great expansion of the church among the tribals of the Chotanagpur Plateau. In those days the adivasi (the early settlers) of Chotanagpur oppressed, exploited and cheated by the landlords and money lenders. The properties of the tribals were taken away from them and they were forced to work for the landlords without remuneration. The British government officials did not understand their way of life either. Consequently, the people of Chotanagpur were in great need of liberation. Fr. Lievens, S.J. understood the misery of the people and helped them to free themselves from their bondage. Thousands flocked to him for the same.
Education was the prime need of the time. Fr. Lievens started opening villages Schools all over the district. With education he also arranged catechism classes. Thus, St. Peter's School, the present St. John's School, Ranchi was established in 1887 in Ranchi for boys. A few years later the Archbishop Paul Goethals, S.J., Archbishop of Calcutta felt the need of women religious to strengthen the mission work in Chotanagpur, and specially to educate girls. To execute this plan, the Sisters of Loreto were sent to Ranchi on 21st March 1890. They opened a boarding school for girls in their 'Red Lodge' Ranchi.
During those days Puran Prasad Kispotta worked with Fr. Lievens, S.J. and with his family accepted the Roman Catholic faith. He was named as Paulus for he was a Lutheran. His two daughters, Mary Bernadette Kispotta and Cecilia Kispotta were studying in Loreto School. Together with them Veronica Kispotta, the Daughter of Prabhu Prasad who was the brother of Puran Prasad, and Mary, the daughter of widow Mokta, studied at the same school. After being with the Loreto Sisters (known as Mothers) for about two three years, these four girls got the inspiration: "if these Mothers work day and night with so much love to save us, the unknown, poor and unimportant tribes leaving behind their dear mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends, relatives and even their homeland for the sake of Christ's "can we not do the same for the well-being of our Country and our people?" Motivated and keenly desirous to learn more from them they began to observe their life and conversation more closely. For this reason they refused to marry and wanted to remain virgins. They were fully convinced that they were called by God to live a life of humble service. Their family members rejected such a notion as pretension and even the Church authorities considered ill-convincedand unrealistic. Such a thing as dedicating oneself to a religion as a virgin had never happened in tribal Society. It was against the tribal custom. After a few years the Loreto Mother, Mother Teresa and Fr. Desmet, S.J. recognized and believed that these girls had a genuine call from God.
By the year 1895, they were found convinced of their vocation, but it was not enough that they would be accepted very soon in religious life. Meanwhile a letter came from the Archbishop Paul Goethals, S.J. the Archbishop of Calcutta: "before they enter the religious life, their faith and vocation should be tested." For this the Archbishop wanted them to wait for eight years. They were ready to obey him. Thus, they granted permission to join the religious life.
Thus, Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta laid down the foundation for an indigenous religious Congregation on 26thJuly 1897 on the feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim. The first four members took their First Vows on 8th April 1901.
It was the plan of Archbishop Meuleman, S.J., Archbishop of Calcutta (1901-1920) to start a Primary School in every village, an upper Primary School in every Parish, Middle School in some station and a High School at Ranchi. The education of girls too was given importance and the bishop needed agents to implement this new vision of the Archbishop.
Meanwhile due to the lack of personnel and other practical reasons Loreto Sisters left Ranchi and went back to Calcutta. They were replaced by the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, Belgium, who arrived at 'Red Lodge' Ranchi on 13thJanuary 1903.
The Ursulines marvelled to see the wonderful works done by the Loreto Sisters just in thirteen years. Now they were to collaborate with the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi. On the one hand, it was difficult for the Sisters from Tildonk to begin their work in this mission without the help of the Daughters of St. Anne's. On the other hand the indigenous Sisters depended on the Ursulines in many respects. It was important that the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi should be founded as a full-pledged Religious Congregation. This fundamental change was initiated in 1903.
The association now became a Diocesan Congregation. Its supreme head was the Archbishop and Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta became the Superior of the Sisters for the first time; and Fr. Scarlecan, S.J. became the spiritual director of the Sisters. The Ursuline Superior Mother Gonzaga was still their Superior for the practical matters.
Nine years after the foundation of the Congregation the first four members pronounced their Final Profession on 26th July 1906. At the end of the year the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi were separated from the Ursulines concerning religious life. However, on other matters they continued their close collaboration.
Prompted with the holy desires the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi went out to preach the Good News in remote villages. In this venture, the life of Sisters was full of challenges and demands. They had to face numerous difficulties and hardships. They had to Journey through dense jungles and mountains; cross-rivers and streams and climb steep ghats(cliffs) to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Sometimes they had to spend nights under trees and sleep without food. For the love of Christ, they did all these, so that they could spread His love to their fellow brothers and sisters.
At the end of 1919, Archbishop Meuleman, S.J., the Archbishop of Calcutta took another momentous decision that the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi would no longer work in schools that were managed by Ursulines but they would have their own schools. Consequently, they began to open their own schools and managed the schools of mission stations.
In the beginning of the 20th century some tragic events shocked the budding Congregation. Cholera had struck the Ranchi town. People used to bring small children from their family to Ursuline Mothers for proper care and the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi looked after them. Consequently, the Sisters became susceptible to the virus and two of them died in August 1906. Knowing that the cholera was an infectious disease, important document, registers, files and diaries too were burnt and destroyed. It was so tragic that even the thought of closing down the whole Congregation came into the mind of some authorities. Nevertheless, the St. Anne Sisters were unshaken of their faith, devotion and zeal to work. They continued to run catechism classes and elementary education for girls in several parishes. It was perhaps the will of God and His special grace that the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi survived and since then grew day by day. The Constitutions were amended in 1920.
Due to the epidemic Sr. Veronica died on 21st November, 1921 on the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and five weeks later Sr. Mary died on 30th December, 1921. They rested in Peace leaving this earth with profound hope to meet the heavenly groom, Jesus Christ, whom they had loved all through their lives.
As the Congregation grew, the Sisters spread out in different Parishes: Ginabahar, Madhya Pradesh (1918), Hamirpur, Orisa (1921), Mandar, Jharkhand and Gaibira, Orisa (1922), Mahuadanr (1923), Torpa (1924), Dighia (1927) and Karra (1928).
On 4th April 1926 Fr. Alphonse Scarlecan, S.J. died after 24 years as the director of the Congregation. After his death Fr. Fredrick Peel, S.J. was appointed as the director in 1933.
25th May 1927 was a glorious day for the Church of Ranchi. Ranchi was separated from Calcutta Archdiocese and it became a diocese. Consequently, The Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi came under the Ranchi Diocese. In 1928, Rev. Louis Van Hoeck, S.J. was consecrated as the first Bishop of the Ranchi Diocese. The Congregation and the mission were flourishing under the care of this Bishop, but unfortunately soon they had to lose him. He died in 1933. It was a sad event for the fledgling Congregation,but the good Lord consoled them by giving Rev. Oscar Sevrin, S.J. as the new Bishop of Ranchi in 1934. The Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi proceeded towards Madhya Pradesh (at present Province) and opened two convents, one in Tapkara and another in Gholeng.
In 1939, a new house was built in Ranchi at a short distance from the Ursuline Convent. On 18th October 1939, The Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi left the 'Red Lodge' and settled in their present Mother House Ranchi. In the same year Sisters started teaching in St. Aloysius' School, Ranchi.
Mother Bernadette, Cecilia, and Dolorosa served the Congregation as Superiors (Bari Mata) consecutively till 1950 and took all the responsibilities upon themselves. With great enthusiasm, courage and love they led the Congregation along the path of (growth) progress. The Daughters of St. Anne are very grateful to them. Late Mother Cecilia (2ndSuperior General) died on the 5thNovember 1956. She served the Congregation for 59 years. Four years, five months and eleven days later, on 16thApril 1961 Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta (Foundress) peacefully departed from this world to receive her eternal reward in heaven. She served the Congregation for 64 years.
After the death of Mother Mary Bernadette, Mother Serophina led the Congregation for three years (1956-1959), Mother Mary Teresa for six years (1959-1965), Mother Mary Sewika for ten years, (1965-1974), Mother Sheela Chandra (First elected) for six years (1975-1980), Mother Subhashi for twelve years (1980-1992), Mother Ethelina for six years (1993-1998), Mother AnupaKujur for six years (1999-2004), Mother PushpaKujur for one and half year (2005-2006), Mother TarcillaKujur for three months (2008), Mother Linda Mary Vaughan for twelve years (Sept. 2008 – tSept. 2020) and Mother Lily Grace Topno, D.S.A. (6 Sept. 2020 - till date).
Cont. No. 136. "The First Councillor takes the place of the Superior General when the latter is absent or when for any reason whatsoever she is unable to exercise her office."
Due to illness and untimely death of the Superior Generals according to the Constitution of the Congregation the 1st General Councillors took charge the Office as an Acting Superior General.
1. Sr. EthelinaEkka (19.08.2006 to 30.12.2007)
2. Sr. Linda Mary Vaughan (17.04.2008 to 06.09.2008)
They all governed the Congregation with great zeal using all their abilities and knowledge. They saw the needs of the Congregation, planned out the works and put them into action. The Sisters will ever remember their valuable services with gratitude.
26th July 1997 was a great day for the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi when they had the Centenary Celebration of the Foundation of the Congregation. The small seed of 1897, today, having sprouted and developed, like a huge banyan tree spread its branches in 7 Archdiocese and 21 Diocese in India. Archdiocese and Dioceses in Jharkhand State - Ranchi Archdiocese, Daltonganj Diocese, Dumka Diocese, Gumla Diocese, Hazaribagh Diocese, Jamshedpur Diocese, Khunti Diocese, Simdega Diocese; Archdiocese and Dioceses in Chattisgarh State- Raipur Archdiocese, Ambikapur Diocese, Jashpur Diocese, Raigarh Diocese; Archdiocese and Dioceses in West Bengal State- Calcutta Archdiocese, Bagdogra Diocese, Jalpaiguri Diocese, Raiganj Diocese; Archdiocese and Diocese in Bihar State- Patna Archdiocese, Bhagalpur Diocese, Purnia Diocese; Archdiocese and Diocese in Madhya Pradesh State- Bhopal Archdiocese, Jabalpur Diocese; Archdiocese and Dioceses in Assam State- Guwahati Archdiocese, Bogaigaon Diocese, Dibrugarh Diocese; Archdiocese in Delhi – Delhi Archdiocese, Diocese in Uttar Pradesh State- Allahabad Diocese, Diocese in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands- Port Blair Diocese, Diocese in Odisha State - Rayagada Diocese. 6 Dioceses in Italy – Metropolitana, Padua, Rome, Teramo, Treviso, Mileto-Nicotera-Tropea Diocese and in Germany – Rottenburg-Stuttgart.
At present The Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi has 1133 professed Sisters in 149 religious houses all over the World. There are 141 Convents in India, 7 in Italy and 1 in Germany. In the Congregation there are 49 Novices in Second Year 23 and in First year 26 Novices reside in two places – St. Anne's Novitiate, Samlong and St. Anne's Novitiate, Kunkuri.
The number of the Sisters has grown. Thus, to meet the needs of the Sisters as well as to animate the apostolate better, the Congregation was divided into regions. Madhya Pradesh region was created in 1974, Andaman's in 1978, Jalpaiguri in 1984, Gumla in 1986, and finally Ranchi Region in 1992. The Regional Superiors directed the apostolate of these regions. Later on four of them were erected as Provinces – Madhya Pradesh in 1997, Gumla and Ranchi in 2003 and Jalpaiguri in 2009. At present they are four Provinces in India. There are seven Convents in Italy and one Convent in Germany which is under the direction and guidance of the Superior General.
On January 7, 2018 Madhya Pradesh Province Celebrated the Centenary Jubilee of the arrival of DSA, Ranchi at Ginabahar in Jashpur. Likewise, The Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi and Jalpaiguri Province celebrated 50 Golden Years of their presence and ministry in the mission of the Andaman & Nicobar Island, in the Diocese of Port Blair in 2010 and in West Bengal 2019. At present there are seven Convents in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Twenty Convents in Jalpaiguri Province.
On 26th July 2022, the DSA Congregation completed 125 years of its establishment. Hence, the Quasquicentennial Jubilee (1897-2022) was celebrated solemnly.
On 8th April 2002, His Holiness Pope John Paul II has granted the Institute of the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi as a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right. We are very grateful to God for His bountiful graces upon us and the Congregation.
