The district of Bidar is located in the Deccan Plateau in the north eastern part of Karnataka state. Gulbarga is the head quarter of Bidar district, which shares boarders with Maharashtra and Telangana.  It is the northern most city of Karnataka and though it is known as the Crown of Karnataka, it is the most neglected and backward district of the state. It is a rapidly urbanizing city, and the administrative centre of the Bidar district.  Bidar city is known for its rich history and its video handicraft products.  Nannies river is one of the main rivers supplying drinking water to Bidar. People of Bidar are mixed with Aryan and Dravidian stocks.  The administrative and official language is Kannada.  The other spoken languages are Urdu, Hindi and Marathi. 

Gulbarga Diocese was erected in the year 2005.  It is a mission diocese covering four civil districts namely, Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir and Bijapur.  On 4^th June, 2014 and 28^th March, 2015 meetings were held with the Bishop, his Secretary and Srs Suma Stancilas (Provincial), Flavy Castelino (Community Animator) and Joyce Peter (Provincial secretary), to evaluate and prepare future plans .  The Bishop was appreciative of the services rendered by the sisters and discussed various aspects of our living and ministries in the villages. Bishop was in favour of sisters staying in the residence built by the diocese, while the sisters would be looking for a land and build their own house.

Accepting the invitation of Bishop Miranda, Sisters Helen Misquith and Irene Albuquerque were sent to Bidar to visit the place and their report was very positive and hopeful.   Again Srs. Rosily Chacko and Flora Lewis (PLT members) visited the place along with Bishop Robert Miranda for further investigation and clarification. More sisters visited the place and all were happy to open a mission here and to enter into various ministries in this challenging mission situation.

Dupat-mahagaon is situated in the Aurad Taluk which is one of the five taluks of Bidar district. The village is a substation of Santhpur mission centre in Bidar district,  It is around 28 kilometres from Santhpur. Though the climate is dry throughout the year, summer months become very hot and the temperature goes as high as 40-43 degree Celsius.  The village has a population of about 3,000.  The people are open to be received into the Catholic faith. 

Euphrasie Nilaya was born on 15^th June, 2012, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as a gift from God for the new adventure on the occasion of the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of our Congregation. Bishop Robert Miranda welcomed the new missionaries and celebrated Eucharist with the sisters and the faithful.  The community was installed by the PLT – Srs. Mary Bernardine, Rosily Chacko and Flora Lewis. A few other sisters were present to grace the occasion.  The first community was formed under the leadership of Sr. Stephanie D’Silva, and Srs. Jacinta Lasrado and Oliva Saldhana.  The sisters were to live in the old village chapel, with one tiny room and a small hall, where Eucharist was celebrated once a week for the villagers.  On that day the sisters would fold their mats and put away the utensils, so that the people could be accommodated in the hall for the Eucharist.

Ministries

The sisters’ ministries are spread under three panchayaths, namely Dupat-mahagaon, Ladha and Kouta (b), which are the most backward villages in the Aurad Taluk  This is a drought prone area too.  The main problems of the people are illiteracy, unemployment, poverty, superstitions, unorganized youth, drugs, discrimination of women, child marriage etc.  Responding to these issues, the sisters are involved in various ministries.

1. Faith Formation: The sisters are entrusted with the Faith Formation of three villages – New Manigempur (20 Catholic Families), Old Manigempur (11 Families) and Dupat-mahagaon (40 Families).  Some families are Catholics for 20 years, while some others are only 2 or 3 years.  So, their faith level is varied.

2. Women Empowerment programme: In general, the social condition is very poor, and women are uneducated.  They do not hold dignity in the family as well as in the society.  As a whole they are silent, submissive sufferers, and do not voice out their problems and difficulties.   After learning their situation, the sisters entered into social development programmes for women.  Self help groups are formed and they are encouraged to have saving accounts in the bank.  The sisters animate their group meetings and impart knowledge and guidance, in order to make them aware of their dignity and right place in the society.  They are also made aware of the legal aspects of discrimination against women, gender equity, government facilities available for women, environmental and current issues etc. thus, the women are empowered day by day, and are motivated to stand on their feet. It is a difficult and enormous task, yet the sisters take the risk to work with them and to see growth in their daily living.

3. English Coaching Classes: English classes are conducted for primary and high school students of six government schools. Though the teachers of these schools are trained, they are not able to speak or teach English, and English becomes a neglected subject.  Seeing this condition, the sisters took keen interest to give free tuition classes for the students of different classes.  With this help the examination results became better, and some students were able to pursue higher studies. Sisters take English classes also for the students of government run hostels, where due to the presence of the sisters, quality of life situations too improved.

English coaching classes are conducted in the mornings and evenings in the villages.  It is conducted in the families as there are no community hall or common place.   The sisters are also invited by a private proceeding school, where the students are lively and interested in learning.   During the months of April – May and October, which are the summer vacation months, sisters conduct English coaching classes for the interested students. Along with these classes, moral and faith values are inculcated – values like, sharing, caring, group work, as well as gospel values.  The students and parents appreciate and value the sisters for their commitment, dedication and service.

4. Youth Ministry:The sisters are involved in the diocesan program organised for the Youth. One sister is the animator at the diocesan level.  The youth are motivated and encouraged to participate in different programs like youth day, youth retreat, monthly meetings, competitions at deanery and diocesan levels, sports and games, and youth picnics. They are also given career guidance, leadership training, spoken English classes, which enable them to appear for entrance examinations, interviews and so on.

5. Counselling:The sisters visit the families, and give necessary advice and guidance regarding family welfare and other aspects. As there is no privacy in the sisters’ residence, they are not able to welcome people for counselling or other guidance.  Counselling is done for the families, teachers, alcoholics, sick, youth and students. The sisters’ efforts are much appreciated by the Bishop the clergy and the villagers.

By 2015 the sisters with the permission of the PLT began searching for a suitable piece of land.  In 2017 Srs. Vinitha Kurian (Province Leader) her team Sr. Olivia Saldhana (Community Leader) initiated the Purchasing of land. 2019 the convent was completed and Blessed and the sisters were able to move into their new home.