For many children in the U.S., access to education is within reach—but in other regions, student housing is essential to make learning possible. Imagine children, eager for education and longing to learn, but living hours away from the nearest school. Such is the reality today in remote areas of India. A safe place to stay is often what makes the difference between hope and real access to education.
That is why the Sisters of the Holy Cross are building a new dormitory (or hostel), in Barkathal, India. This will offer students a home to live, learn and dream in while attending Our Lady of Holy Cross School. Student housing is a provision the sisters have offered for over 180 years, knowing that a boarding school provides more than just a place to live.
A long history of boarding schools
Holy Cross sisters have long relied on student housing as a vital link to education. This commitment began with the opening of Saint Mary’s Academy in 1844 on land donated by Madeline Bertrand. This was the sisters’ first educational ministry, and with it, they quickly recognized a critical need. To reach children in the remote wilderness of northern Indiana and southern Michigan, it required providing not only schooling, but a place to live. Saint Mary’s Academy eventually moved to Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1855, and by that time, sisters could house up to 60 students.
As the country was developing, the Sisters of the Holy Cross continued to apply this technique across the United States by opening additional boarding schools in California, Utah, Idaho, Illinois and Indiana.
Today, sisters continue to sponsor and operate schools in areas where quality education is scarce. And in places where students live too far away to attend daily, they rely on the same donor support to help provide student housing.
Making space for more students with housing
At Our Lady of Holy Cross School, the need for student housing is especially urgent. Serving families primarily from the Deb Barma tribal community, nearby tea gardens, and the border regions near Bangladesh, the school has grown rapidly. It now offers nursery through grade 12 education and enrolls more than 700 students each year.
Student housing exists for both boys and girls, but the accommodations for boys are severely lacking. The newer, more modern girls hostel can house nearly 70 students. However, our ability to welcome boys who live far from the school and need boarding is limited to just 30. What’s more, the existing hostel is made of tin walls and roofing—which trap heat like an oven. In the intense climate of northeast India, the building becomes unbearably hot, making studying and sleeping nearly impossible.
This is why the Congregation has declared building a new boys hostel a priority project for 2026. This new space will provide a comfortable and dignified place to live and learn—and a chance to build a brighter future.
Housing provides a life-changing environment
Parents of hostel students repeatedly request placement for their children because they witness how they thrive in its structured, supportive environment.
Each student follows a daily rhythm—without the distraction of mobile phones. Sister Shibanlin Nongsiej, CSC, principal of Our Lady of Holy Cross School, shares, “In the hostel, everything has a time—time for prayer, time for play, time for study.”
The students’ day begins at 5 a.m. and includes morning study time, prayers, and breakfast before starting school at 7:45. After school, lunch and rest, the day continues with homework, cleaning, games, evening meals, recreation and study. At 9:30 p.m., the lights go out for a well-earned rest.
In this environment, adds Sister Shibanlin, “the boys’ personalit[ies] and their values become so different.” The sisters see that difference every day: Hostel students perform better academically, take leadership roles in school programs, and grow in confidence and responsibility.
Opening doors to opportunity
For Jiten Tripura, a seventh-grade student, the hostel is his lifeline to education and a brighter future. Jiten’s home is in Kanchancherra, a remote village seven hours away by car from Our Lady of Holy Cross School. Without student housing, attending school would be impossible.
When Jiten arrived at Our Lady of Holy Cross School in 2023, he spoke no English. Since then, he has made remarkable progress in all areas of his education. He has earned the respect of his peers through his humility and helpfulness, and his leadership qualities shine every day.
Sister Parboti Gomes, CSC, describes the transformation she sees in the boys. “When they come to the hostel, they live as brothers. They learn how to care, how to love, how to respect others. It is beautiful to see how they grow.”
For many boys, the hostel becomes a second family, adds Sister Shibanlin. “Many of the boys are single children. At home they feel lonely, but in the hostel, they have friends. … They don’t even want to go home during holidays.”
An act of justice
Providing secure housing for these students is not only an act of hospitality—it is an act of justice. It ensures that boys from surrounding areas can attend school, pursue their dreams, and break the cycle of poverty.
The expanded facility will allow the sisters to welcome older students and potentially house 80–100 boys, meeting the overwhelming demand from families who want their children to grow in discipline, community and academic excellence.
Thanks to a generous donor, land has already been identified for the project, and the legal process to secure it is underway. Once finalized, construction can begin—but additional resources are needed to build and furnish the new space.
Right now, you can help turn this dream into a reality by donating to the Congregation’s spring appeal. Your gift will help build a safe home for children who dream of a better tomorrow. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.