SOCIETY OF THE HELPERS OF MARY
SHRADDHA VIHAR - A HOUSE OF FAITH
​​MOTHER HOUSE
Shraddha Vihar occupies a special place in the hearts of the Helpers of Mary and in the history of the Society. Since the time the Society started functioning independently, Shraddha Vihar has been the headquarters and therefore the Mother House for all its members. But, more importantly, it is the place of inspiration for all, as it is the site of the last resting place of the founder, Mother Anna Huberta.
During her final illness Mother Anna Huberta lived out her last days in Shraddha Vihar. Today her room holds her relics and memorabilia as a witness to her spirituality and leadership. Also, her tomb the Mother House where her memory is kept alive through various celebrations and commemorations.
Shraddha Vihar was first built in 1963. During the International Eucharistic Congress in 1964, the land was officially blessed and handed over to SHM by Julius Cardinal Döepfner of Germany. It is about four acres, next to St Catherine’s Home, Andheri.
The house was strong, built on a good foundation, but with a cow dung floor. In 1967 Mr August Scherer, one of the benefactors from Gaggenau, Germany, offered to extend the Mother House and the first floor was added. The cow dung floor was replaced with tiles. In 1978 one more floor was added, as the Society grew in number.
​
CONTACT: +91 7506564853
​​FORMATION HOUSE
As regular space was needed for the training of novices and postulants, a formation house was built in 1964. But as new entrants came in, and the house space became insufficient, the Postulancy was shifted temporarily to Tilaknagar in May 1991. This change also helped to give the new members opportunities for an experience in the apostolate among the people. However, in 1992 the Postulancy shifted back to Andheri.
With the consent of General Council and permission from Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archdiocese of Bombay, and Bishop Thomas Dabre, Diocese of Vasai, the Novitiate was shifted from Andheri to Mukhta Jivan, Vehloli on 4 July 2008, to give greater attention to the spiritual needs of the novices at this important stage of their initial formation.
​​LITTLE PARADISE
With the passage of time as some of the sisters aged, it became difficult for them to climb stairs to the floors above in the Mother House. Hence, they were shifted to a more convenient cottage which was named Little Paradise.
In 2017, during the platinum jubilee year of the foundation of the Institute, a new building was built for the Generalate and the old building was converted into a home for the elderly sisters.
The newly renovated Little Paradise was blessed and inaugurated on 29 June 2018. This home is a tribute to all the sisters who devoted their lives to the service of the poor and the needy with the missionary spirit and passion of Mother Anna Huberta. These sisters will spend the evening of their lives gracefully, comfortably and peacefully in prayer, especially for the Congregation, friends and needs of the world.
​​ATMA SADHANA
A house for training, workshops and renewal courses, it was established on 27 May 2001, and was inaugurated by our pioneer sisters, Srs Zita Menezes, Imelda Dias and Monica Monteiro.
​​SHRADDHA VIHAR GENERAL HOSPITAL
In their service to the people, the sisters sensed a need to provide medical assistance to the poor. So in 1964 an outpatient department was started. As this outreach grew, in 1972 this facility was converted into a small hospital with 15 beds. In 1973 an operation theatre was added. It is now a full-fledged, hospital-cum-maternity home with specialist OPD, diagnostic and supportive facilities that cater to the needs of the people of the surrounding area, as well as the members of Bal Bhavan, Jivan Asha and the Institute.
​
On 4 July 2023, at a commemoration of Mother Anna Huberta’s death anniversary, the foundation stone for a 50-bed facility was blessed by Oswald Cardinal Gracias.
​
CONTACT: +91 9664524023
​​SHRADDHA VIHAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
SHM conducted a health survey to assess the requirements of the slum assigned to the hospital by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In view of the existing needs. The centre focuses on preventive and curative care to the impoverished and vulnerable of society. Health camps and disease awareness programs are conducted with the support of the BMC health sector. The focus groups are geriatrics, women and children.
​​JIVAN ASHA
In September 1971, during their visits to the nearby area of Gilbert Hill, the sisters found a sick lady in a helpless condition. She was brought to Shraddha Vihar and looked after in a tin-shed garage. In October 1971, the tin-shed was converted into a small cottage for the sick and aged. Now the Home has been extended and made comfortable for 60 inmates, many of whom are destitute, physically/mentally challenged, suffering from various illnesses, bedridden and helpless, and abandoned by society. The sisters and supporting staff work round the clock to make sure that they live here with dignity and grace. Here they have not only found a home but also a big family to share the evening of their lives.
​
CONTACT: +91 9220232931
​​BAL BHAVAN
This children’s home was started in 1972 under the inspiration of Mother Anna Huberta whose searching eyes saw the misery and the inhuman conditions of the children living in the slums of Mumbai. She saw the inexhaustible potential the children possess and how love could transform them into pearls of great value. This great visionary saw the reflection of God in their eyes and was inspired by God’s word ‘when I was homeless you opened your door’. She, along with Sr Mary Imelda, gave shape to Bal Bhavan that began with only 10 orphan children.
​
In 2018 the old structure was demolished as it was in a rundown condition. Bal Bhavan was reconstructed to accommodate dormitories, study rooms, a sick bay, a counselling centre, a dining room, and a multipurpose hall and was blessed and inaugurated on 7 December 2019.
​
Bal Bhavan is a registered Care Home for Children under the State Women and Child Development (WCD) Department. The vision of this home is to enable children to enjoy the fullness of life through all-round development. All of them are given an education. They are trained to become self-reliant individuals who can support themselves and their families.
​
Imparting vocational guidance and career training is the goal of this institution. Depending on their interests and abilities they are enabled to take up courses in nursing, teaching, computer, secretarial, fashion design, travel, tourism, chartered accountancy, hotel management, etc.
​
CONTACT: +91 8879167947
​​SHRADDHA COMMUNITY CENTRE
The centre provides esteemed services to the adjoining slums through mobilization and action for various issues concerning women, children, the differently abled, and senior citizens. Apart from legal assistance to the needy, the centre also provides counselling services, and in some cases financial assistance, ration and foodstuff. There is a well-organized credit society, and self-help groups for women.
​
With the objective of enhancing household income, skills augmentation training is being provided to women folk from the slums in trades like tailoring and beautician. The project aims to train young women in these trades and also provide assistance in job placement and self-employment.
​
Computer classes and personality development classes are organized for the youth with the objective of enhancing their employability. The centre also conducts courses on spoken English, crafts, candle-making, embroidery, painting, cookery, henna and beauty expertise, etc.
​​NURSERY / REMEDIAL CLASSES
Shraddha Vihar was situated in a big slum area. Through their regular visits the sisters noticed that the children living in the slums had little opportunity to study and keep up with their school education. In 1965 a balwadi was started for the small children while the older ones were encouraged to attend regular classes at St Catherine’s School. However, as the families’ home conditions were impoverished, remedial classes were also started for the school going children.
​
From 15 children in 1965 the numbers have grown enormously. At present there are 250 children attending the informal school; 200 children receive help through coaching classes and 50 attend the balwadi/nursery daily. They also get school uniforms, books, nutritional food and other essential educational materials. Many poor children have benefited through this informal school and have achieved a better future. Sports, drawing activities, various competitions and other fun games are conducted for the children regularly.
​​KRIPA ACADEMY FOR SKILLS
In commemoration of Mother Anna Huberta’s birth centenary, the Kripa Academy for Skills was established in 2010 to provide vocational education for girls from our Children’s Care Homes who are school dropouts and come from poor families. The first batch comprised 15 girls.
​
The courses conducted at the academy impart training in para-medical, para-legal, computers, beautician, home science, tailoring, etc.
​
The para-medical training was a year-long course in assistant nursing care, under the modular employment skills scheme of the Government of India. It is now certified by the Maharashtra State Board for Vocational Education. The students are also given training in computer literacy, spoken English and personality development, to build their self-confidence and communication skills. At the end of the training, the sisters support the students in finding jobs, often using the network they have built through their work with hospitals.
​
The academy has a hostel for girls who come from faraway places. Every year 50 girls and young women are trained to be nurse assistants with ability to care for patients. From the year 2023 the strength of the batch was increased to 60.
Address: Shraddha Vihar, Veera Desai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai 400 058