Pandripani Community, Simdega (2015 – )
Pandripani is a small village in Simdega. It comes under Meromdega Panchayath. It is the second community in Simdega and a supportive community for the Piriaponch community. The Foundation of the Assumption Community at Pandripani was on February 26th, 2015, the community had a simple and beautiful Assumption style blessing and inauguration of the mission in Pandripani. The sisters stayed in a small two-room hut in the school compound while the convent was being constructed. With great trust in God as well as the support of St. Marie Eugenie, the sisters took up the Pandripani mission. They experienced God’s presence close to them in the difficult moments of their life.
A small two-room construction in the parish compound was used as the Assumption School. The school was formally opened on 10th April 2015. The parish priest blessed the class along with the parents of the students of the K.G. classes. There were thirty-eight students, three sisters, and one lady teacher at that time. The parish hall was used for the nursery with nine children then.
Despite inconveniences the parents and students along with the sisters adjusted to the situation. As the
ground floor of the school was being constructed, the classes were shifted to the new school building. On
22 nd September 2015, Fr. Ireneus Ekka, the parish priest of Pandripani blessed the classrooms and the
school office. The sisters were glad and thanked God as their dream of having an Assumption School was
realized. The official blessing of the Assumption Convent and the Assumption School at Pandripani was
held on 18th December 2015. At present we have classes up to the upper primary level (K.G. to Grade
VII) 370 students were enrolled in the school.
The vision and mission of the Pandripani school is to become an agent of social transformation and social
change and make a difference in the lives of the tribal people in general and tribal girls in particular in
Simdega Diocese, Jharkhand. The school hopes to achieve an eco-friendly English medium school for
tribal children, implementing the principles of Assumption transformative education characterized by
academic excellence, character formation, and a sense of social responsibility. The sisters collaborate with
the local Church in its different activities for the faith formation of the families.
The establishment of the school, the community, and the outreach programs encountered various
challenges for the sisters, as they actively got involved in the mission of the community. The mission was
fulfilled with the powerful hand of God who accompanied them.
