On 2 March 1971, the public of Keonjhar. Along with the support of the collector and Nari Samaj Sikhya Kendra presented before late Msgr. Jacob Vadakeveetil CM the apostolic administrator of Balasore Prefecture and patron of our school, the pressing need of this area to have an English medium school whereby all children would have the opportunity of Education and the accompanying benefits. Many of the officers and some local people welcomed the idea. Msgr. Jacob thought over the matter and finally accepted the plan of the school with some verbal conditions.
"As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so are Christians guided to heaven by Mary.”
Msgr. Jacob contacted our sisters at Barbil. They were ready to give a helping hand. Mother Felicia, Sr. Leema Puthenparambil and Sr. Liberta came to Keonjhar. They started teaching in a class of 14 students and hence on 15 March 1971 Nirmala convent school was formally opened by the Honourable Rajmata of Keonjhar. Initially, the school started functioning in the Nari Samaj Sikhya Kendra building. As there was no facility to stay, the sisters were coming every day from Barbil - a distance of 80 km to Keonjhar. Understanding the difficulty of the Sisters Mr. BD Patnaik, a mine owner, gave his lodge free of rent for the sisters to stay. The Sisters got the help of Rev. Fr. Paul Pynadath CM who was in charge of Keonjhar mission. On 1 April 1971, the sisters shifted to another rented house for better convenience. Rev. Fr. Thomas Kottaram, the manager of all the schools in Balasore blessed the new residence and said Holy mass.
On 23 November 1972 Msgr Jacob purchased a plot of land in Keonjhar and the work of the school building started Rev. Fr. Paul Pynadath toiled hard for the upbringing of the institution. On 10 April 1973, the foundation stone of the new convent building was laid. Within two years the construction work was completed. On 29 June 1975 Msgr. Jacob blessed the house and named it Nirmala Convent. Sisters started visiting the villages along with fathers. Saving schemes and Mahila mandals were started to uplift the mother and children. Training programs and awareness classes on health and hygiene were held to empower women. Services like giving medical help to lepers in a very urgent situations taking the patient to the hospital and saving them from loss of life etc influenced the villagers very much. The parish priests and the sisters continued to visit the villages.
School functions well under the guidance of sisters. School had celebrated its Silver Jubilee in the year 1996 and presently it is at the threshold of its GOLDEN JUBILEE which will be celebrated in the year 2021. And there is no wrong in saying that Nirmala Convent School is one of the best school in the district and in the state.
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