St. Teresa's Monastery, Balachaur

ST. TERESA'S MONASTERY, 
Siana P.O., Balachaur -144521, S.B.S Nagar Dt., Punjab
 
   The first step towards the purchase of the site of St. Teresa's Monastery & Mount Carmel School, Balachaur, was initiated when Fr. Benjamin, who came to Garshankar to fill in the absence of Fr. Joseph Thekkel, was led to some of our well-wishers at Balachaur by the D.M. Sisters and Bro. Augustine Mangalathil, Regent. Fr. Benjamin met Adv. Avtar Singh Mann and Mr. Janak Raj, Patwari, who were associated with our school at Garshankar as parents, and on their advice, further met Mr. Balbeer Sigh, a realtor, who proposed the present site. The company was joined by Rev. Fr. Francis Kiliyampurackal, Regional Vicar, and Rev. Fr. Benedict Pulikkattil. On 25 January 1999 the Vicariate Council approved the proposal and we got the land registered on 08 February 1999.

      The Vicariate Council entrusted to Fr. Peter Kappalumakkal the responsibility of developing the new station. Accordingly, Fr. Peter Kappalumakkal constructed the boundary wall first and then laid the foundation stone for a temporary residence on 17 June 1999. On completion of the construction Rev. Fr. Francis Kiliyampurackal blessed the presbytery on 28 November 1999, and Fr. Peter Kappalumakkal moved into the new house. Due to the earnest efforts of Fr. Peter Kappalumakkal , the first phase of the school building was ready to use within five months. On 26 April 2000 the school was blessed by Rev. Fr. Francis Kiliyampurackal and inaugurated by Shri. Pritam Singh, SDM, Balachaur, in the presence of many of our fathers, sisters and well-wishers. As the Presentation Sisters agreed to collaborate with us at Balachaur, Sr. Rossy Joseph and Sr. Matilda reached Balachaur on 24 April 2000. The school started functioning with Fr. Peter Kappalumakkal as the first Director and Sr. Rossy Joseph as the first Principal.

      This station was later on raised to the status of a Monastery with due permissions from the local Bishop and the General Definitory. The foundation stone for St. Teresa's Monastery was blessed and laid by Rev. Fr. Abraham Mittathanickal, Provincial, on 08 August 2018, and the construction was planned and supervised by Fr. George Vayalil. Though the blessing of the house was scheduled for 28 March 2020, we were forced to postpone it due to the outbreak of the pandemic, Covid-19.
 

*Fr. Joseph Puthukkattil OCD                  *Fr. Albert Parambil OCD
*Fr. John Thundyil OCD                           *Fr. Sebastian Thonikuzhiyil OCD 
*Fr. Jacob Puthettukalathil OCD              *Fr. Johnson Kanjirathamkunnel OCD(Superior)

"Teach by Works More, than by Words"
-St. Teresa of Avila