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Navjeevan Convent, Gayaganga
Gayaganga P.O. Kamala Bagan, Dt. Darjeeling - 734 426. West Bengal. India.

Convent: +91 353-2004095, Hospital: +91 353-2004103, Office: +91 353-2004096,
School of Nursing: +91353-2004104.


Our Mission in Gayaganga had its humble beginning when the first batch of Daughters of the Cross arrived here in April 1935.Our sisters resided in the presbytery for one year before moving into our first convent. The first convent was blessed on 26th April 1936. Fr. Bossaers. S.J the founder of Gayaganga mission had managed to get a grant of Rs.200/- to build the dispensary where we could treat the victims of plague, malaria and Kalazar. The dispensary was opened on 10th May 1937 and was called BOGIBHITA Dispensary through this dispensary the sisters reached out to hundreds of sick people, bringing comfort and healing. Four sisters made up the first community in Gayaganga: Sr. Mary Lutgardis, Superior; Sr. Maria Hiltraud, Infirmarian; Sr. Gerard Majella and Sr. Mary Charles. Sr. Hiltraud used to dispense the medicine with the aid of an interpreter, and prayer, especially for the tiny babies who arrived into the hostile world.

The sisters tried to visit the people in their homes in the tea gardens and tend the sick, especially expecting mothers who were usually dreadfully weak. Father Bossaers was always generous in providing nourishing food supplements, even trace the anaemic patients by looking at their tongues while giving communion and ask them to meet him for help after Mass. They worked as team, day and night, risking their own lives fighting an epidemic that had to be contained but not conquered. In 1971, the liberation war of Bangladesh brought hundreds of refugees in West Bengal and other states of India. It was a new challenge to Boghibita Hospital. The sisters, along with volunteers, moved into refugee camps as well. The hospital became the center of medical services in the whole of Terai.

However, it was felt that the existing building was inadequate for catering to the medical needs of the people and a new building was planned. The building was completed in 1983 and Boghibita dispensary was renamed Boghibita Hospital. Getting qualified doctors and nurses was a problem so the Province began to train sisters slowly to take over this medical apostolate. The new thrust needed a new name and the hospital was christened as NAVJEEVAN Hospital in the year 1995. On 1st September 1998 the sisters working in Navjeevan hospital became a separate community called Navjeevan Convent.


Daughters of the Cross Convent, Hathighisa
Hathigisha P.O., Dt. Darjeeling - 734 429. West Bengal. India.

Phones: +91 353-2488/281.


Daughters of the Cross arrived to take up the mission in Hathighisa on 15th January 1968. They had the joy of being welcomed by Fr. Joseph Brennan S.J., Br. Johannesburg and the Parishioners. The three pioneers for Hatigisha mission were: Sr. Xavier Clare as Superior, Sr. Shalini – for the dispensary and Sr. Mary Anita for the school. Initially the primary school classes were taken under the trees and then in the corridor of the fathers’ residence. Sr. Anita joined the school on 23rd January 1968.

Later on Fr. Joseph Brennan S.J. built the school building and a multipurpose hall. In 1978 Fr. Tony Millage S.J. built another wing for the Junior High school. Late Sr. Sushila was the Headmistress and Superior during that period. Two sisters worked in the primary school and one sister in the Junior High school. Sr. Florentina Ekka taught in the school from 1983- 2003 and Sr. Nilima Dungdung from 2003-2006, both taught in Junior High school. Sisters started a hostel for the little ones. Sr. Mary Catherine, Sr. Sebastiana, Sr. Bridget and many others were hostel in charge at different times giving motherly care to the little ones. Later in 2010 we started a hostel for only for girls from classes V – XII.

People came from far distant places for medicines to the dispensary. Sr. Shalini started helping the leprosy patients and began the Mother Child Health programme with the help of Mr. Seraphinus and Mr. Philomin. Over the years many sick people benefitted from the dispensary. Now in place of the dispensary we have a palliative care center, taking care of patients who are completely invalid. Hatigisha being the second largest parish after Gayaganga had a lot of pastoral work. Many sisters were involved in the pastoral care of the people giving marriage classes, preparing the faithful for the sacraments, teaching Catechism and visiting families.