OUR LADY OF LOURDES – THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE
Dindigul Town – the place renowned for making locks – was emerged during the period of Tipu Sultan. On the high road leading to Madurai – an ancient place, which gave birth to the renowned Tamil Sangam and also the flourishing place for pearls and development the three facets of Tamil – Literature, Music and Theatrics – Our Lady of Lourdes Girls Higher Secondary School was established by the sisters of Bon Secours Congregation (Adaikkala Annai Sabai) with a view to extending education, for extending a helping to the unfortunate segment of the society and also to exhibit the loving care to the helpless segment of the society.
After completing 8th standard, the girls had to go a very far place for pursuing higher elementary levels of education. The people of the area were not aware about the importance of education for girls and had not sent their girls to a different place for education. The Parish Priest of Mettuppatti, Rev.Fr K. S, Michael, has explained the situation to the Rev Mother Mary Isabellah and sought permission to start a high School.
On 13.6.1959 in Saveriarpalayam, Our Lady of Lourdes High School was started – representing the name the virgin Mother Our Lady of Lourdes, who gave her appearance in Lourdes Nagar in France and who has been granting multitude of her gracious assistance to those who seek her.
COMMENCEMENT OF SCHOOL:
With the great thinking of Rev Sister Mary Little Flower, Mother General of Bon Secours Congregation, the school was started with Rev Sr.Mary Luke, as Headmistress along with 11 teachers and 19 girls. The School was started in a rented building and was housing the students of 9th, 10th and 11th standards.
SHIFTING TO OWN PREMISES:
The School functioned in rented building from 1959 to 1965. Rev Mother Mary Casmir and Rev Mother Mary Domitilla took efforts and purchased the land to the extent of 3.25 acres, where the School is presently functioning.
STORY OF THE ELEGANT BUILDING:
The School emerged with a beautiful auditorium in the frontage, 11 rooms at the ground floor along with the Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes atop combined with the fencing of walls on all the sides. The new building was blessed and opened by Rev Bishop James Mantonza on July 24, 1967.
With the efforts of Rev Sister Virginia, the top floor of the building was constructed besides closing the well in the ground. The pavements were laid, which was an achievement then.
WHOLESOME HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL:
The combined and untiring efforts of Rev Sister Virginia and other sisters, the School showed continuous growth. Having started with the classes for High School, the School commenced classes for middle school also. Commensurate with the growth, the building facilities have also advanced. With the idea of bringing out future leadership of the country, the School became higher secondary School on July 10, 1978.
CASTELESS AND RELIGIONLESS GROWTH:
Students belong to the religions of Hindu, Muslim and Christianity had studied in the School and was excelling well in various fields of profession.
Having started alongwith the Mettuppatti Parish, the School converged in 1997 into the Saveriarpalayam Parish, which brought out a tape on the song “NIRANTHARAM”.
With the blessings of Rev Mother Mary Domitilla, a separate office was started in the School Campus, thereby appointing Sister Mary Invilotta as the first Head. In 1978 the residence for Sisters got shifted opposite to the School.
VALAR MAGALIR ILLAM:
Exhibiting the specialty of the Society, the home was started in 1968 to cater to the needs of poor and the unaffordable girl students. With the sustained efforts of Sister Mary Marshall, a two-storied home was built by allotting the ground floor to the Home for Growing Women.Further, a Cottage Home, comprising of 25 girls attached to this Home is also functioning for the benefit of orphaned and downtrodden girls.
