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St. Joseph's Convent, Matigara - 1965
Matigara, Dt. Darjeeling. West Bengal. India.

Convent: +91 91 353-2581/399, School: +91 353-2580/206/2582/753


The history of St. Joseph's Convent dates back to 1965, when the existing school was shifted from Khalpara to Matigara. Until then the sisters shuttled between Gayaganga and Siliguri to teach and administer St. Joseph's School, Khalpara. Sr. Xavier Clare as nominated as the first Superior in 1965. She was followed by Sr. Gerard Majella, Sr. Anne Magdalene, Sr. Joseph Celine, etc...

At the start, the school was accommodated in the convent building (ground floor) and the sisters lived on the first floor. The main apostolate of the sisters was education and side by side, social outreach was done in and around the neighbourhood. This social apostolate is part of the mission of the Convent and the school even today.

The Apostolic tasks of the Community are: 1. Higher Secondary School 2. Literacy School 3. Grannies' programme (once a month) 4. Visiting families and encouraging saving scheme individually 5. Tuition classes for the neighbouring children who go to government schools .


Shanti Bhavan, Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri
Pradhan Nagar, Siliguri, Dt. Darjeeling - 734 403. West Bengal. India.

Phones: +91 353-2513/250

In 1957 Fr. Coutino S.J. came to reside at a place called Pradhan Naagar outside Siliguri, the main town of North Bengal. In those days, the church building stood alone in the midst of wide open fields all around, not hidden as it is today by a mini township.

Today there is a thriving parish served by Fr. Thomas Vayalil and Fr. Francis Yonjon and by the Daughters of the Cross. Together they directed the schools and a dispensary, in their large parish which extends from the town of Siliguri to the foot of the mountains.

Sr. Mary William was the 1st Superior. Sr. Celestina worked in the Parish. At that time there were 5 sisters in the community. All the sisters except Sr. Antonia went to teach in the schools. Sr. Antonia went to Seva Kendra to help out in the Dispensary. The sisters went out visiting families, hospitals, nursing Homes and families of our school children.