‘Birthday Nun’ Ursuline Sr Speciosa Alvares in all Smiles being Centenarian
Mangaluru: She was a cute little smiling ‘girl’ when she was One year old, and she is a cute little smiling Religious ‘Ursuline Franciscan Congregation Nun’ on her 100 birthday, which was celebrated at the “Shanthi Dham”-Ursuline Franciscan Provincial diocese in Deralakatte- in the outskirts of Mangaluru couple of days ago. She looked still young, and in her signature smile welcomed everyone who came to wish her on her memorable 100th birthday celebration, comprising of Sisters, relatives, and friends. This nun has now the elite group of people who celebrated their 100th birthday. A 100th birthday is the ultimate milestone! For someone who has shared many memories and touched many lives for over a century, there’s nothing better than showing the true appreciation for all they have done by giving them a heartfelt 100th birthday wishes! She has also been an inspiration to all the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters for which they are truly grateful.
Barely five feet tall, and while looking at her today one can say that she is a force of a womanhood, or for that matter-‘nun hood’?. The sparkle in her eyes not dulled by age, but by the old age which is daily robbing her of the memories she has always held so dear. All those years that she has lived on this earth are one heck of a milestone and her spine straightening with pride each time her relatives and friends remind her that she is celebrating her 100th birthday. “Me? 100? Well, I’m pretty good, now aren’t I?” is her reply. And this Centenarian birthday Nun is Sr Speciosa Alvares, born on 24 February 1919 (but her 100th birthday was celebrated on 12 March). Yes, Life is a precious gift. What is the best way to celebrate life. It is by counting the blessings. Today these religious Sisters marvel at her life and the blessings God poured on the Congregation through her dedicated life.
It was hard to guess that Sr Speciosa had just turned 100 years old. Sitting behind a large frosty delicious cake, she was all smiles as she looked around at her other Congregation Sisters whom associated with and others “She loved living her life,” one of the Sister chimed. “She still does.” As the Sisters sang a few songs and entertained the gathering, Sr Speciosa looked around the room and had smiles on her face and tears in her eyes.The birthday celebration comprised of a few religious prayers and hymns, words of wisdom by the Congregation Superior General Sr Susheela Sequeira and Congregation Provincial Superior Sr Rita Va, cake cutting,a felicitation for the Centenarian, a little bit of other entertainment, followed by a sumptuous meal. The Eucharistic mass was celebrated by Fr Maxim Misquith Sj of Fatima Retreat House-Mangaluru
What an honour and opportunity dear Sr Speciosa has given to the Congregation Sisters to celebrate a century of life with her. In Konkani they say “Century marli?”. A person like her only comes around once in a lifetime, and it seemed like the Sisters were truly blessed to have her in their Congregation. Recently they had the opportunity to celebrate the 100th birthday of yet another of their colleague-Sr Josphine, and now they had second Centenarian.Wishing Sr Speciosa on her 100th birthday, the Sisters gave her 100 hugs, 100 kisses, and wished her 100th birthday wishes to someone who had brought fond memories and much laughter into their Congregation.
Sr Speciousa is a person so beautiful and rare, a person of people oriented, mentally stable, generous and having a spirit of sharing whatever she gets from others not wasting her time and energy by making best out of waste. She is a lover of children and her family members are very close to her. She is always cheerful, joyful and hardworking has lot of respect towards priests and authority. The whole bunch of Sisters t the Convent love her because she has gone as a pioneer to open a few communities of the Congregation. She enjoys the company of the Sisters. Witty and jovial in nature, prayerful and devotion to mother Mary is her great, humble and noble nature.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Sr Susheela Sequeira- Congregation Superior General said, ” Sr Speciosa being with us for decades has been a great joy to all of us, and today while we are celebrating her 100th birthday we are all overwhelmed and filled with more joy. She lived a successful life in spite of her illness and struggle. She is indeed a brave and independent lady, very duty-mined doing her work with dedication, gets up early in the morning, and attends morning prayers at the Chapel. She is very active, cheerful and smiling, has a great attitude, and always appreciates little favors done to her with a thank you.”
Provincial Superior Sr Rita Vas also speaking said, “Sr Speciosa is a person of prayer. She is asthmatic patient, many times she was gasping for breath still God gave her long life. Happy 100th birthday to her ! May her enjoy her special day and everyday after it as a person like her only deserves the best! Wishing her love, warmth and health on her 100th birthday. May her be surrounded by loved ones and appreciated for all that she is, as a person like her only comes around once every 100 years. Today we celebrate a significant day, marking a centenary of having an incredible human being on this earth. Through many historic events and endless scenarios of both triumphs and tribulations, Sr Speciosa has defied all odds to become one of the most inspirational humans in our lives. Once again I extend on behalf of our Congregation my 100th birthday wishes to her that she may continue the path she is now, for many years to come, filled with happiness, warmth and health.”
Born to Santhan Alvares and Carmalin D’leema in Goa as the sixth child among eight siblings, Sr Speciosa was brought up in an environment of prayer, faith and love., which enabled her to be aware of the need to serve God and humanity. This inclined her towards a religious life. As a result she joined the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation on 20 November 1938, and took her first vows on 20 May 1940. She then made her final profession on 20 May 1943. From then onwards she rendered her devoted service at many places and her contribution is hard to surpass.
Ever since my youth days, I was always curious about the secrets to longevity and what made people live to 100. I mean, 100 is kind of a random number, but triple digits?That’s pretty amazing – there must be some kind of secret. Seeing as you usually hear that people’s grandparents die in their 70’s or 80’s I was totally intrigued by these long-lived peeps. Four years years ago, when I interviewed Michael D’souza on his 100th birthday, and later on Ivy Mathias 100th birthday, the first thing I asked them the secret behind their health and 100 years of living healthy. I have a long way to go before I reach 100, but by the way I eat junk food and irregular diet I have a feeling that I will kick the bucket, many years before reaching 100. But I very much admire how these octogenarians could make it to 100?
Anyway, as I got older I became more interested in longevity not because I actually want to live to 100 or 100 plus, but because the kind of people that live to 100 or above are the ones who usually enjoy an unprecedented quality of life throughout their lives. The people who take good enough care of themselves to live to that ripe, old age, also suffer from a fraction (or none) of the health problems that plague the majority of people today. But I really do admire the life and characters of Sr Speciosa, and want to express some of my thoughtful words about her- 100 years of memories and 100 years of life, she has been a very special and surely all honour is due for all the great experiences that life has given her during the past 100 years. She has done more in a lifetime than others can only dream, and no doubt looking at her, one can say, she is the most amazing 100 year old religious lady (nun) still bubbling with enthusiasm that must have ever known or seen around here.
To all those who came to congratulate her personally on her great and amazing milestone, I bet her presence in their midst was filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love. Through her 100 beautiful years, Sr Speciosa has brought immense happiness, love and joy to her Congregation Sisters, family members, dear and near ones,relatives and friends. No doubt that 100 years of life is an incredible milestone, but one should remember it’s not the years in your life that matters, it’s the life in your years. With 100 years of life, love, memories and blessings-with each passing year, she has inspired all her dearest and nearest ones.
It isn’t everyday somebody turns a century old. We all should be glad to note that Sr Speciosa who is one of the lucky few- it’s a blessing to have her as our role model in our lives. Long live Sr Speciosa- a centenarian who is much active and energetic than a “Sixteen Year Old College Girl! “Hap…hap…hap..Happy Birthday “Sister Speciosa”, and many happy returns of the day- are the belated wishes from Team Mangalorean/Mangalorean.com
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