History of Little flower Convent, Tassia
- Name of the Convent : Little Flower Convent
- Patron : St. Therese of the Child Jesus
- Titular Feast : 1st October
- Parish : Holy Innocents, Tassia Catholic Parish
2005
Rev. Fr. Robert Vujs
Tassia Estate, Embakasi, Nairobi- Kenya
Sr. Mary Doris, Sr. Deodita Dias, Sr. Mary Daphne.
- Diocese : Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa
- Objectives : Evangelising through education to the young.
- Mission : To mould, impart knowledge & promote harmony in the society.
- Vision : To develop personality with integrity.
Inception
All great works have humble and hidden beginnings and so it was with the Little Flower Convent and the school attached to it - Tassia Catholic Primary School.
The Little Flower Convent (rented house) was blessed by Rev. Fr. Robert on the Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, 8th December 2004. The founding of the Little Flower Convent is directly linked to that of Tassia Catholic Primary & Nursery School. Fr. Robert Vujs, a Maryknoll missionary priest who was residing in Kenya at the time founded Tassia Catholic Primary & Nursery School. He approached Sr. Aloysius A.C, who was residing in Nairobi and running another school- Carmelvale Primary School that was also founded by him (Fr. Robert). Fr. Robert wanted effective sisters who could run the new school he had just founded. Sr. Aloysius A.C, referred him to the CCR sisters. Under the leadership of the Superior General, Mother Mary Frances, arrangements were made for the community to be formed. The pioneer sisters in the community were Sr. Mary Doris, Sr. Deodita Dias and Sr. Mary Daphne.
Early Years
Life was tough for the pioneer sisters of the Little Flower Convent. They started running the new school- Tassia Catholic Primary in January 2005. They lived in a rented house several kilometers away from the school and had to commute to and from work. Whenever it rained, they faced even more challenges commuting because the roads were not tarmacked and they had to wade through muddy pools. We are however thankful to the Apostolic Carmel sisters who ran a nearby school named Carmelvale Primary School in Jacaranda estate for their support and guidance during the initial stages of the Little Flower Convent.
Service to the church and community
Tassia Catholic Primary & Nursery School is a unique school founded on a strong Catholic foundation and owned by the Archdiocese of Nairobi. The school co- exists harmoniously with the Holy Innocents Tassia Catholic parish. The sisters support the parish by teaching Catechism in the school as well as preparing pupils for the sacraments of Baptism, first Holy Communion and Confirmation. They also carry out sacristy duties. Currently there are five sisters in the community, Sr. Nirmala Vincent, Sr. Mary Telma (Mary Carmel), Sr. Karmala Appu, Sr. Flevia Dimekar and Sr. Vanita Dabre .The school actively supports the Little Sisters of the Poor who run a home for the elderly in Kasarani, Nairobi and the Missionary Sisters of Charity. This is done through contributions from the staff and parents of the school especially during the Lenten campaign. The initiative was started by the Little Flower Convent Community sisters.
Progress & Development In The Community And School
When the community was formed in 2005, Fr. Robert Vujs was in the process of constructing phase I of the primary school educational block. In 2008 sisters purchased a 14 seater van for their personal use. Sisters also financially supported the dream project of Mother Frances- Mount Carmel Secondary School, Ngong. Under the watch of the sisters, the phase II primary educational block was constructed and completed in 2012 whereupon it was blessed by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue- the Archbishop of Nairobi. The school compound was fitted with paved walking tiles in 2014 and a borehole was also drilled for provision of water. The school currently has four buses for transporting pupils. The Little Flower Convent purchased a 14 seater van for the Mbooni community in 2015. In 2018, the school management took up the expansion of the school due to increase in population. On July 15, 2020, the third phase of the school was inaugurated and blessed by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue and His Lordship Bishop David Kamau. The school population has grown from around 45 pupils in 2005 to over 1567 at the moment (2021).
Eminent Visits & Events In The Community
Mother Mary Frances, CCR Superior General visited the country and our community together with all her Councillors in 2006 for the very first time in the history of CCR. The then Archbishop of Nairobi, Rev. Ndingi Mwanaa’ Nzeki visited the community in 2006 and met Mother Frances during her initial visit.
2007
Sr.Conradine, Sr. Edviges and Sr.Maria Pereira - General Councillors2009
Fr. Robert Vujs2009
Sr.Conradine and Sr.Margaret. General councilors2010
Mother Mary Frances and Sr. Belinda2011
Mother Mary Frances and Sr. Belinda
2011
Fr. Robert Vujs2012
His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, the Archbishop of Nairobi.2013
Sr. Philomena Viegas and Sr. Molly Attully - General Councillors2014
Bishop Casesaro, Bishop of Turin, Italy2014
Fr. Robert Vujs2014
Mother Mary Elma and Sr.Agnes Lopez2015
Fr. Robert Vujs2015
Mother Mary Elma and Sr. Agnes2017
Mother Mary Elma
Sisters Who Have Served In The Community
The Little Flower Convent has witnessed four animators since its inception.
Animators
- Late Sr. Mary Doris - 2005 - 2006
- Sr. Mary Nathaline - 2006 - 2008
- Sr. Betty Antony - 2008 - 2009
- Sr. Mary Carmel - 2009 - to date
Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers
- Head teacher - Sr. Deodita Dias from 2005 - 2007
- Deputy head teaher - Sr. Sabi Antony from 2006 - 2007
- Head teacher - Sr. Betty Antony from 2008 – 2020
- Deputy Head teacher - Sr. Nancy Antony from 2007 - 2008
- Deputy Head teacher - Sr. Mary Carmel (Sr.Mary Telma) 2009 - 2020
- Head teacher - Sr. Karmala Appu from 2021
- Deputy head teacher - Sr. Mary Carmel (Sr. Mary Telma) from 2021
Other sisters have also served in the Little Flower Convent Community in diverse capacities. These are Sr. Mary Daphne, Sr. Karmala Appu, Sr. Sheeja, Sr. Maria Sudhi, Sr. Ann Mary, Sr. Flevia Dimekar, Sr. VanitaDabre, Sr. Marita Jane, Sr. Sebin Fernandez, Sr. Philo Antony and Sr. Nirmala Vincent respectively.
