Caritas Canossa home officially opens

Apr 12, 2025

By Philip Packium
The Caritas Canossa Home, a boarding school for needy schoolgirls, officially opened its doors on March 25, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the project that began in 2016.

The vision for the home was inspired by the late Fr Michael Mannayagam, who envisioned transforming the former Canossian Sisters’ property into a space dedicated to supporting vulnerable students.

After nearly a decade of reflection and planning, the renovation of the premises began in July 2024, with a budget of RM250,000, and was completed in December 2024.

The facility can accommodate 20 students, with four rooms, each housing five beds. Two full-time nuns and a Student Affairs officer, who also serves as a cook, manage the daily operations of the home. The first intake of students arrived in mid-February 2025, breathing life into the space and marking the beginning of the Caritas Canossa Home’s mission to support underprivileged schoolgirls.

The official opening ceremony was held on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2025, with Bishop Bernard Paul and Sr Josemary, Vicar General of the Canossian Congregation, presiding over the ribbon-cutting and plaque unveiling. The event was followed by a lively dance performance by the four boarders, symbolising the vibrant spirit of the home.

In his address, Bishop Bernard Paul highlighted the importance of addressing the needs of the marginalised and quoted Aristotle, urging attendees to recognise the intersection of their talents and the world’s needs. He emphasised the importance of being fruitful and productive, using the fig tree as a metaphor for the mission’s potential.

Sr Josemary spoke of the home as a testament to love in action and reminded the boarders that they were the heart of the mission and the light of the world.

Fr Paul Wong also shared his thoughts on the power of collaboration and the hope that the home’s efforts would bear significant fruit.

The event concluded with a fellowship lunch, where guests enjoyed a simple yet delicious meal, celebrating the success of the Caritas Canossa Home’s opening and its promising future.