“The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step,” so says a Chinese proverb. And so began the journey of St. Joseph’s Convent S. S. School Ratlam. The plan that God had in mind from all eternity, took birth on 26th July 1956, as a tiny seed sowed in the heart of the city of Ratlam. Watered and nurtured by the hard work, patience and dedication of the Sisters and Staff, the appreciation of the parents, guardians and well wishers, and the encouragement and support of the officials and higher authorities, both religious and secular, this seed slowly but surely took the form of a mighty institution. Days, months and years have swiftly gone by, and now after 50 years we find ourselves ready to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of this renowned Institution, that has grown over the years, giving shelter, knowledge, love and care, to a great number of children, who have passed through its portals.
It was at the request of Bishop Simon of Indore, that the Sisters accepted to open the school in Ratlam for both boys and girls. Being a Rly. Colony, the children were neglected without any proper education. It was on 24th of July 1956, that Srs. Agnes, Philomana, Benedict Joseph and Edith Mary arrived for the formal opening of the school. The sisters remained in a small cottage in the Church compound and used the parish hall for the school. There were just 3 students for the commencement. But the numbers swelled by leaps and bounds and today the numbers have crossed 3600.
Motto : Ite Ad Joseph " Go to Joseph"
Significance : The silver cross on the gules is based upon the arms of Savoy. The Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery is located in Savoy. The plate depicts the Holy Eucharist, which the founder desired to be the model of the Institute. The keys signify the spiritual authority of our Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome. The General House of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery is located in Rome. The fleur-de-lis represents France where the Congregation was founded in 1650. A carpenter's square stands for Saint Joseph, Patron of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. The Star represents the Blessed Virgin, under whose protection the Congregation is placed.
St. Joseph’s Convent S.S. School, Ratlam, was founded in 1956 by the Indian Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, as per provisions of the Constitution of India part III Art. 30 (1). It is administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Convent, Ratlam, in accordance with general rules governing the above Congregation.
It has two separate mediums- English and Hindi. The School is recognized by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. It prepares students for the All India Secondary and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
The School is lovingly dedicated, as the name suggests, to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ. Honouring him as the patron Saint of the School, every Josephite Student and Teacher is asked to inculcate in their lives, the virtues of St. Joseph, such as his Availability, Simplicity, Hospitality, Obedience, Cheerfulness, Purity, Courage, Faith, Humble and Loving Services.
Several superiors & principals have been at the helm, working tirelessly, along with a band of faithful and dedicated teachers to bring the school to its present stature.
School level
Sr. Secondary School
Board
CBSE
School type
Private/ Public Schools
School Video
no video link
1. All admission will be accepted on prescribed forms.
2. Registration forms along with the prospectus are available in the school office
3. All admissions are based on merit only.
4. Applications of students coming on transfer from other schools must be supported by the
marksheet, transfer certificate form the Head of the Institution in respect of :
a. Date of Birth
b. Class last attended of class or which promoted
c. Counter signed by the competent authorities of education department of the concern Board.
HE FASCINATING VENTURES
The wake of the session witnessed new fascinating ventures offered to our students at SJC Ratlam which opened for them a flood gate of opportunities to discover and display their talents.
• The “Talent Search”
• The Three Dimensional Assemblies
• Cultural Activities
• Sports Activities
These ventures were introduction to the regular programme of the School has brought great gains to the students.
HE FASCINATING VENTURES
The wake of the session witnessed new fascinating ventures offered to our students at SJC Ratlam which opened for them a flood gate of opportunities to discover and display their talents.
• The “Talent Search”
• The Three Dimensional Assemblies
• Cultural Activities
• Sports Activities
These ventures were introduction to the regular programme of the School has brought great gains to the students.
It began in 1650 ..............
Since then three and a half centuries have passed …….. Three and a half centuries of history, designing a long series of events, each calling us to pursue a moment when all seemed lost....... each one giving birth to something new, in response to the new challenges of each age!
In the 17th Century
In the 17th Century, in the town of Le Puy, France, Fr. John Peter Medaille as a Parish Priest, came in contact with young girls and widows, who were touched by the misery around them, but who, at the same time, desired greatly to give themselves in total dedication to the Lord. Fr. Medaille recognizing the action of the Holy Sprit in them, pointing to the birth and need of active Religious women in society, asked them to pray and wait, and to continue living according to the desires awakened in them.
Contemplation of Jesus hidden in the Eucharist, gave Fr. Medaille "a perfect pattern for the Little Design", where Jesus is completely emptied of self and is thus a Model of an Institute which will be emptied of self, because of the situation and the thinking of the Church and society at that time. The "Little Design" of the Daughters of St. Joseph, had a humble, insignificant and unrecognized beginning in 1646, where the Sisters lived together, in small communities as religious. They were not cloistered, but were actively engaged in spiritual and corporal works of mercy among the poor and most needy. These Sisters had faith as their wealth, coupled with a deep experience of God, which they felt the need of communicating to all those whom they served.
The Violence of the Revolution
During the French Revolution of 1789, all that had been born of that first animation collapsed. Many Sisters were imprisoned, some died as martyrs in faithfulness to the Church, and others returned to their homes. But this passage through trial and death was not definitive.
When the Revolution was over, there was a discreet and organized resurgence of the Institute of St. Joseph, similar to the expansion of the early communities, under the able guidance of Mother St. John Fontbonne. The Sisters who had been dispersed came together again to form communities around certain houses. The central houses became autonomous Mother Houses, giving their names to various Congregations. Something new revealed itself in their life and in the world.
Entering the third Millennium with Jesus the Liberator with a special concern for Women :-
Today we are experiencing the Post-Modern World of Globalization, with a fast - changing market economy, satellite television which promotes non-traditional values, rapid urbanization and industrialization, migration, disintegration of the family and sacredness of life, sexual violence and mental and emotional disorders. These upheavals have thrust women into truly uncharted territory - a place, from which familiar landmarks have disappeared, a place where the wisdom and experience of our forebears is of uncertain application, a place from which there is no turning back.
We as Sisters of St. Joseph, while facing unprecedented challenges and choices, are called to put into practice the social Christian thought in promoting "the good of the world's women". In our era, beset by the speed and depth of social changes, we are called to be women of God-experience, prayer and action, enlivened by the Word of God-women upholding the sanctity of sex and sexuality, women's rights and their role in the family and society, and like Jesus leading all women to come to their rightful place in the service of God and society.
The Birthplace and early days of the Congregation
When in 1641, the renowned prelate Henri de Maupas, was appointed to the See of Le Puy, he realized the necessity of procuring willing laborers to assist him in his works of charity. But how or where could he find persons willing to embrace such a life of sacrifice? Then in the Providence of God, there came to his Episcopal See in the Lent of 1648, the famous Jesuit missionary John Peter Medaille whose labours in the fields already fertilized by St. Frances Regis, had brought to his knowledge, a number of devout an uneducated women, desirous of consecrating their lives to precisely such a work as Bishop de Maupas wished to establish.
An interchange of ideals led to a prompt decision on the part of both prelate and priest, and the Bishop bade the missionary bring to Le Puy those ladies whom he had already begun to form on his ideal.
The cenacle into which they entered was the house of a noble widow, Madame de Joux, who seems to have been the mother presiding over the cradle of the Institute sheltered beneath her roof.
