Edited from a submission by Sr. Beena Jose, Communication Coordinator, India (Province of Southwest India – Bangalore)
In the beautiful auditorium of the new buildings, sisters, partners, staff, students, benefactors, and well-wishers gathered on April 18, 2026, for the blessing and official opening of the new pre-university and administration buildings of the Good Shepherd Convent Composite P.U College in Mysore, India.
The journey to this day was an eight-year endeavor, as we faced numerous setbacks, including the global COVID-19 pandemic, which paused construction for two years – but through prayer, emotional and financial support, and unwavering faith, we got there in the end!
For over 140 years in Mysore, our mission has been to promote the dignity and human rights of every person, with a particular focus on uplifting girls and young women from marginalized and impoverished backgrounds. We believe that education is a powerful catalyst for the transformation of unjust systems.
Alongside robust academics, we empower our youth through enriching programs, including the National Cadet Corps, the Interact Club, and cultural and environmental activities. By fostering the holistic development of each student, we strive to cultivate socially committed, emotionally balanced, and spiritually grounded individuals.
Blessed by Most Rev. Thomas Antony Vazhapilly, Emeritus Bishop of Mysore, and inaugurated by Sr. Lissy Chacko, Province Leader of South West India, the addition of these new modern buildings significantly enhances our campus, which serves a large student body, including many students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, as well as families facing financial hardship.
For underprivileged girls in particular, the opening of the new pre-university building represents a stronger bridge to possibility. It offers a more fitting environment for young women to continue their studies at a crucial stage in life, when many are deciding whether higher education, vocational training, or employment will be within reach. A strengthened PU program can help more girls remain in school, prepare for competitive pathways, and imagine futures that may once have seemed closed to them.
The inauguration day concluded with a thanksgiving program expressing gratitude to all who helped make the project possible. Special thanks were offered to the sponsors, benefactors, and friends whose generosity sustained the work through the years. Their support has helped create something that will benefit generations of students, especially girls who need education not only to succeed academically, but also to claim their dignity, discover their strengths, and create new opportunities in their lives.
As we step into this hopeful new chapter, we pray that these enriched learning spaces will continue to foster a universal culture of justice and that the girls who pass through these halls will be empowered to shape better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
