Education based on the Carmelite way of life has been the main thrust of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation. The Secretary General of Propaganda Fide asked the writer in Rome in 1957 how the congregation got the name ‘Apostolic’, which is usually given to Church related bodies. The reply was that the order preaches the word of God through the life and work of the Sisters.
How did the A.C. sisters come to Aldona? When Mr. Edward Soares, the Principal of the prestigious St. Thomas High School in Aldona, was seriously ill in 1947, he was advised perfect rest. His wife Mrs. Beatrice who was managing the Girls’ section from class I – VI, decided to take over the Principalship of the Boys’ section, and give over the Girls’ section to some religious congregation. Fr. Frederick Soares (the brother of Edward) approached Fr. Sylvester De Souza S. J. at Mapusa and he offered to help out.
Fr. Sylvester, went to Holy Rosary Convent, Nuvem and met Mother Doreen and Sr. Amabel, the Headmistress of the school.
Though it was Holy Week, he urged them to travel to Mangalore, to get the Superior – General’s permission to take over the school at Aldona. Unfortunately, Mother Josephinethe Superior General was in Ceylon, so they awaited her return.
She told them to accept the offer, but not to commit themselves to any conditions.
In the last week of May 1947, the Girls’ section from standard I – IV was handed over to the Apostolic Carmel congregation. They were to pay rent for the building, and
proposal and in May 1948 was born Lourdes convent at Aldona as a filial house of St. Mary’s Mapusa, with Mother Mercedes as Superior of both the houses. Consequently, a contract was signed by Mr. Edward Soares and Sr. Mercedes in May 1948, with the following conditions :
- The Apostolic Carmelites will take over the complete management of the school upto class VI, and open other classes progressively.
- The school will be named St. Thomas Girls’ High School.
- The school premises and furniture will be used for ten years (or less if a suitable place is found earlier) on payment of Rs. 80/- per month as rent.
- No boys should be admitted.
- 5000/- will be goodwill on taking charge of the school.
Statue of Mr. Edward Soares near Aldona market.
In May 1949, Mother Archange was appointed the first superior of the newly – formed house of Aldona, independently of
On September 5th, 1950 the school got recognition from the Bombay University and from the Pune Board in April 1951. The First batch of students was sent up the following year and obtained cent- per- cent results.
On 2nd April 1952, the convent received a beautiful gift from the Superior General Mother Sylvia. The statue of Rosa Mystica was installed with the pealing of the bells and the sisters singing “Senhora Nossa”. This completed the essential establishment of the convent.
From then on there was no truning back….
The school has grown over the past 75 years and as we look back on this journey, we undoubtedly give Glory to God, for the school has striven to impart not just education of excellence to the students but also to raise them up in great human values, empowering them to function and contribute to the welfare of their families and the society.
The school celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the year 1998.
During the years 1999 – 2004 ,new Primary,Pre-Primary and A new extension block was added to the school to provide, science lab, computer lab and spacious classrooms for our students.
In 2012 our school received a school bus under the Gomant Bal Rath Scheme .The bus came exactly five months after a great tragedy ,where four of our students and two elders met a watery grave at the Calvim jetty.
We are also grateful to the Sports Association of Goa and the Village Panchayat for giving our students first priority to use the village ground behind our school premises.
until the school was recognised by the Bombay University, Mr. Edward Soares was to be the Principal of both schools.
In June 1947, Mother General formed the first community. Sr. Constance was the Superior and the other sisters were Fidele the great ascetic, Nympha the enthusiastic teacher and Katrina the affable house- keeper. When admissions were to start only Sr. Fidele arrived, so Sr. Wilhelmine was sent from Margao to help. She was an excellent teacher, so the foundation was laid on the twin pillars of excellence in teaching and asceticism of the two stalwart Apostolic Carmelites. Later in the month Sr. Constance the Superior and Head- Mistress arrived with the statue of St. Joseph, and so the school was ostensibly established.
The First Three months were an experiment in dual management which did not work very well, as the conditions of the contract were not clearly spelt out. When Mother Josephine, prior to laying down of her office, visited Goa in September 1947, she decided to close down this foundation and some of the sisters were sent to the new foundation in Mapusa. This came as a shock to Mr. Edward Soares and to the whole village of Aldona. Thus the dream that Aldona would be a seed – bed for vocations was shattered.
Fortunately, the Girls’ School had not been handed over to any other congregation, so when Mother Sylvia, the new Superior General, visited the Mapusa convent in March 1948, Sr. Nympha and Sr. Amabel requested her to meet Mr. Soares regarding the re- opening of the Aldona convent, this time with a well defined contract. Mr. Soares welcomed the
St. Mary’s Convent. Sister Amabel was appointed Principal, Sisters Elfreda, Leocadia, Verda, Nympha, Zepherin and Nemisia formed the new community. The convent was named “Rosa Mystica Convent”. The sisters lived in the school building and began to equip it with furniture such as the piano, typewriter, etc., from their savings. The Aldona Association gave a donation of Rs. 1500/- for furniture.
Meanwhile, efforts were on to find a suitable house or a plot of land for the convent and school. Fr. Ireneu Lobo S. J. Volunteered to help. Going around the village in a jeep the organizers arrived at the present site and Fr. Ireneu suggested they stop and ask Our Lady for the plot. On inquiry it was learnt that the property belonged to Miss. Eugenia Ferrao (well known as Tia- Eugenia). She sold it to the sisters for Rs. 16,000/- on 24th November 1949.
On the feast of the Immaculate Conception the foundation stone for the building was blessed and laid by the chancellor Mr. Francis Da Piedade Rebello. The Patriarch loaned Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 85,000/- for the building. Meanwhile the sisters resided and carried on classes in the old building which is the present primary school of the Franselians.
As the school expanded, the sisters were compelled to shift their residence to Nachinola, the neighbouring village where they were offered a beautiful house in January 1950. They had to commute by bus or on foot. While the present building was under construction the sisters got valuable co-operation, advice and guidance from two stalwarts of the village, viz. Mr. Auspicio Rodrigues and Mr. Santana Lobo.
In 2017, the school had a face lift as Mother Veronica multipurpose hall and thee classrooms were added to the infrastructure .
Throughout these 75 years, St.Thomas Girls’ High School has faithfully carried out beautiful traditions, first introduced by Sister Amabel A.C. and carried on by her successors.The present, headmistress Sr.Rosarina Crasto A.C has the privilege of ushering the Platinum Jubilee Year.
“OTHERS!” this is the motto which stimulates our students in their studies and other curricular activities and helps them to live a value based life of love and service to God and Others.
A villager adds- The people of Aldona and the neighbouring villages are grateful to the Apostolic Carmel Nuns for the establishment of this school in the village. As transport is still a problem, a High School with such academic excellence coupled with discipline is indeed an invaluable asset. The school endeavors to incorporate new ideas and techniques like computer education and the Green Revolution. The sisters involve themselves in the problems of the village and take an active part in all the activities, especially catechesis. Thus the school is an integral part of the Aldona Village.
May St.Thomas the patron of our institution shower myriads of blessings on the management, staff, students, parents benefactors ,friends and well wishers. May the Almighty God continue to empower us as we forge ahead with hope and courage to discover newer opportunities and challenges of education in the 21st century .Mary Mother of Carmel be a beacon light leading us forward with fresh enthusiasm and greater commitment.