St. Steephen’s Dahod

Vision

To form integrated and responsible digillent person committed to peace and justice and ambitious for outstanding achievements.

Mission

Animated by the spirit of Jesus we commit ourselves to serve humanity, to foster unity in and integrity of our Mother India, and to promote fullness of life through Education.

Objectives (Goals):

– Spiritual Formation and personality Development

– To promote love for the nation, culture and our heritage, Inter-   religious and International Brotherhood.

-To prepare students to develop responsible leadership and selfless service and self confidence.

-To prepare students to face challenges of day-to-day life.

-To inculcate and encourage positive values among students and staff like respect for human life, Family life, Justice, Love and peace.

-To impart quality education and to develop learning skills.

-To care for the Mother earth and its resources.

How it all started:

The first batch of about 200 catholic families arrived on this soil in December 1931 from Bombay parcel railway workshop. Having come from the city to this jungle they were literally lost in the wilderness without any spiritual guide. With lot of request & petition, correspondence and personal approach, in April 1932 they managed to get a resident chaplain in person of Rev. Fr. E. F. Montero. Now as the Catholics were increasing gradually and there was no education for the children’s so it was on 6^th June 1932 a diocesan Priest, Rev. Fr. E. F. Montero, opened the school primarily for the Catholic children and for the some aimless youths. The classes were conducted in small residence and in one of the quarters of the Western Railway Workshop on temporary basis. The school staff during this time was one master and the two lady teacher who had in their in charge 50 students. The school was catering to the educational needs of the children of the parents with transferable jobs in the Railway workshop and its vicinity. As the parents were found from various parts of the country and spoke different mother tongue, it was found necessary to give them education in the English medium. The majority of the people were poor and were not able to pay the fees; still the worst condition was of the girls who were deprived in life due to social inhibitions, misplaced fears and discrimination. It was in this condition the school was started. Because of the ever growing demand for the English education, lack of space and for the all round development of the students, after a few years the church and the school was shifted from the Railway colony to the place where it stands now on the outskirts of the Municipal town of Dahod. It was on 20th March 1938 amidst scenes of joys and jubilation, the foundation stone of the church building was laid by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Roberts, Archbishop of Bombay. On 4^th February 1939, the primary section of St. Stephen’s school was recognized. In June 1945, the Society of Jesus took charge of this place and Rev. Fr. Marquis was posted as the parish priest and the Principal. A man of letters he did not rest with the primary school. He strived hard and his untiring efforts were fruitful. The secondary section was recognized and the first batch of students was sent up for the SSC Examination in March 1950. Then came Fr. Pascal D’souza. The plan prepared by his predecessor was put into operation. Under his personal Supervision St. Stephen’s High School building was built in 1957. During the time of Rev. Fr. Campus, the poor sisters of Our Lady, A congregation of Bombay diocese, were invited to take over the charge of the school. They remained with us till 1964. The parish and the school belong to the Diocese of Baroda. It was started by the Diocesan Priests; and the Jesuits later worked for its development and extended till 1973.

On 10th May 1973, the SVD- Society took over the administration of the parish and the school from Fr. G. P. Lobo, a Jesuit priest. Accordingly, Rev. Fr. Joseph Lopez SVD became the first SVD parish priest and the principal of the school. The school had only red building and a few others were made of mud and cow dung plaster walls and tile roofs, with class from K. G. section till 10^th STD. Gradually years passed away St Stephen’s was at the top in the developments and achievements. Later a survey revealed that most of our students never liked to continue their studies out of Dahod. It seemed an urgent need to have higher secondary section for the general stream in the school. All the aspects of starting a new section were well considered and planned and Fr. Lopez SVDV executed it by appointing a teacher for the high school. Rev, Fr. Leo Cornelio SVD took care of the school as the acting principal and in 1980 the first batch of the general stream (H .S. C.) appeared for the board exams. Soon the other arts subjects were also started. It was indeed a Herculean task for Rev. Fr Ignatius Thottappilly SVD who took over the charge as the principal in 1984, to stabilize the school. He appointed a regular qualified teacher for the commerce stream, and also started the science stream and introduced computers as a part of the school studies. It was this time in 1986 the science stream was started in the school with regular qualified teachers. This improved in the result of the school and in the discipline. The progress further succeeds in guidance of the Rev. Fr. Thomas Aquinas SVD. Later on for the further developments of the school the old red building was demolished in the year 2000 and was rebuild with a new infrastructure by Rev Fr. Justin D’Souza SVD. Later on the new high tech library, A. V. Room and the new Computer lab is being under construction under the Manager Rev. Fr. John De Britto SVD And Rev. Fr. Charles Amrithraj SVD has put a great efforts and have done the partnership with St Hubert’s Catholic primary School, (U.K). Presently Rev. Fr. C. Rayappan SVD is serving as the principal. St Joseph’s Church Trust undertakes the complete responsibility of the administration of the school. There are 3 SVD Fathers a Brother and 3 SMA Sisters who are at the service to give the best for the Parish and the school. There are 51 Teaching and the nonteaching staff belongs to different castes and religions working in the school. Our full fledged school provides coeducation irrespective of the caste and the religion. The strength of the school is more than 1700 from K.G to STD XII. Every class as two divisions has more than 50 students. The higher secondary section of the school consists of science, Commerce and Arts streams. Recently we have completed 75 years of the institution.

For the last 75 years this school has been serving the people of Dahod District and has educated many, irrespective of caste and religion. From its humble beginning to its full fledged state it has been keeping high standards in matters of education and discipline. In spite of the difficulties the school has achieved its highest esteem. And the Sacrifices of the fathers, the Sisters and all the committed teaching and non-Teaching staff have paved the way to make this school the most sought after. Before I wind up let me express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Fathers that have helped us and guided in the school as well in spiritual life. Today I remember all our benefactors and well-wishers who have come to our aid in times of need. Those who have gone ahead of us we pray eternal rest for them. For those with us, we request prayers for our missionary.

Miles Stone:

15/12/1979 St. Stephen’s Cine Club organized a children’s film festival from 1-5 December to mark the close of the International Year of the Child. Children from other schools of Dahod town attended the festival in large numbers. Frs. Leo Cornelio, Deepak Sulya and Br. Richard Alvares were responsible for this successful venture.

08/03/1992 Annual Parent’s day was celebrated. Mr. Girishchandra Patel the municipal president presided over the functions and Fr. Ignatius T. the Provincial gave away the prizes. The functions were meticulously organized on both the days and it was a feast for the eyes and ears of the parents and students.

20/02/1982 As the SVD in India completed their 50 years of existence the Catholic community of Dahod celebrated the Golden Jubilee. The celebration began earlier with the Triduum for the Catholic conducted Fr. Briganze SJ from Ahmadabad.  A concelebrated Eucharist by Bp Ignatius D’Souza of Baroda with many priests from Jhabua and Panchmahals districts was held. During the Eucharist the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion were administered. Immediately after the Mass the new parish library was inaugurated followed by a short cultural programme and a community meal for all gathered.