Sisters of Charity all set to Celebrate Birth Centenary of Sr Bartholomea Louise

Sisters of Charity all set to Celebrate Birth Centenary of Sr Bartholomea Louise

Sisters of Charity here in Mangaluru Province are all set to Celebrate Birth Centenary of Sr Bartholomea Louise, a Sister of their congregation on 8 July at Saripalla Community Centre, AB Nagar, Saripalla-Mangaluru; and also on 14 July at Infant Mary’s Convent/Spandana Trust-Social Welfare Unit, Jeppu-Mangaluru

“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. We are each part of the body of Christ and gifted in different areas. Act on the gifts that God has given you and start today “–Mother Theresa.

Mangaluru: Knowing the nuns is truly a blessing because they have a special touch and a healing tactic that makes you feel closer to God. This article written with love and sentiments from the bottom of my heart is about acknowledgments and tributes to the nuns who have given many of us their will to make us “know and love God,” and to, “make us good.” Many former Catholic school boys and girls who grew up with the nuns still tell stories of the nuns — the days of the Latin Mass, strict school manners, meatless Fridays and the ruler across the knuckles. Some of those stories may be funny, sadistic or clueless — but no matter what nun stories we may come up with, a nun can change a child’s or a adults life in an instant.

I come from a Catholic family comprising of many nuns and priests who chose to serve the Lord. My aunt, Sister Florence AC, (served many years at St Agnes Convent, Mangaluru) was my greatest mentor, adviser, and preacher. She also taught English and math at various schools across India. My cousin, Sister Teresa of Avila AC, who had taken various posts helping the less fortunate is now residing at St Agnes Convent. Sister Carmel, belonging to the Good Shepherd Sisters at St. Michael’s Convent/home in Bangalore, is at the helm of taking care of unwed mothers, a children’s home and a vocational school for women- she also is my cousin.

My cousin Sister Matilda, belonging to the Ursuline Sisters of Franciscan Order, is the Headmistress of St. Angela’s School, Bejai, Mangaluru -her congregation goal is to give education to the kids and also visit their homes to help their families in their physical and mental needs. Also serving as a missionary and as a Principal of an English school in Kenya, Africa, is my cousin Sister Winnifred AC, (sister of my sister-in-law )-she too has served at St Agnes Convent. I also have distant family relatives namely Sr Marie, a Bethany nun serving at an orphanage in Mumbai; and Sr Carmelita AC, rendering service as an English professor in Sri Lanka.

And while appreciating what all these above nuns have done to me and to others, I take great honor in paying respect and tribute to yet another religious nun who has served God and people with dedication, commitment, and love- Sr Bartholomea Louise of Sisters of Charity Congregation, where she had spent most of her religious life at various institutions in Mangaluru, run by the Sisters of Charity-Mangaluru Province. Her legacy of sacrifice and work towards the poor should be appreciated by all of us in a big manner- and therefore celebrating her birth centenary will be a befitting tribute to this great soul who has so much for the needy and destitute.

Born in a middle-class family, Cecilia before she changed her name to Sr Bartholomea after ordination into the Sisters of Charity congregation as a nun, she was a deeply motivated and a religious/charismatic person since her younger days. As a religious and God fearing nun, Sr Louise achieved her dreams by transforming her religious beliefs into social work, succeeding in building nearly 1000 homes for the poor, something which no other religious nun had done. But she never looked for any recognition or felicitations for the work she did nor sought any limelight or social acknowledgment for her works- she always worked behind the scenes, according to the faithful.

On March 19, 1940 during the St Joseph Festival in town, the senior sisters at the institution adopted her and sent her to Holy Angels Convent-Belvedere (Angelore), Mangaluru for further religious studies, and after spending three years there she became Bartholomea Louise from her original name of Cecilia. She was ordained on 25 March 1943, and from there onwards she sacrificed her entire religious life for the sake of the poor and destitute. She was known for her efficiency and she was very much attached to the art of prayer.

Due to her immense love in spreading God’s messages, not only in India but also abroad, she made a visit to Myanmar (formerly Burma) along with a bevy of sisters. During the World War-II between 1944-1947, she hid herself in the forest with the children of Japanese society to save them from the external aggression, surviving on what the forest had to offer. Serving for nearly 25 years in Myanmar, due to internal political strife all foreigners had to return to their homeland- and so Sr Louise returned back to Mangaluru. In 1966, she was sent to Infant Mary’s Convent-Jeppu and later started teaching the students and teachers at Gerosa School, near to Infant Mary’s Convent. The children at Gerosa cherished her teachings and always liked her for her nature.

In 1971, Sr Bartholomea instituted ‘Ananda Ashram” in order to create a base for downtrodden students under the leadership of Sr Izabella, during which time she took help from cross sections of the society to start a hostel facility for the students irrespective of religion, caste or creed. Sr Louise recognized the talent of every student and nurtured/developed them equally and accordingly, where thousands of students benefited through her training at this Ashram. She also extended help to the poor and homeless, who approached her for help- and she started a housing scheme for them. Hundreds of economically backward people of different religion from different parts of Mangaluru, namely- Attavara, Bajjodi, Jeppu Bappal, Vamanjoor, Saripalla, Preethinagar, Shakthinagar, Bajal and Adyar Padau got the pukka (refers to dwellings that are designed to be solid and permanent) homes due to her constant efforts.

Sr Bartholomea also developed roads and water facilities, also a community hall-which was commended by the senior sisters for her efforts in doing so. For the benefit of seniors, she also started “Helpage India” in 1986, where she helped the destitute and sick elderly folks, and nearly 300 people benefited that time, which continues to this day. As she grew older, her superiors and senior sisters requested Sr Louise to retire from her social service work, which she readily accepted, and from there she immersed herself in deep meditation and spiritual prayers, which gave much support for her work and zeal.

Sadly, Sr Batholomea Louise breathed his last at the ripe age of 93 on 26 December 2009, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice and work for the poor, homeless and destitute. No doubt, Sr Louise was a person of courage, strong faith, values, ideals, love, and years of wisdom which made her who she was. She always stood up for what is true and what is right and knew what was truly important in life. Sr Bartholomea was indeed a blessing from God, and we should all respect her with love and gratitude. Her spiritual life bears witness to the joy of loving, the dignity of every human person, the value of little things done faithfully and the surpassing worth of faith in God. We should simply adore her qualities and ideals, thereby accepting her as a role model in our lives, as to how we can show care and love towards the needy and destitute.

We all should know nuns are called to help the community and to spread the word of God. Most of them spend their time in silent prayer and reflection. They head out into the community to do whatever they can, education, being spiritual directors, doing youth guidance and counseling or offering up any other talents they have in the name of God. Some are teachers while others work in charitable causes. Nuns serve a very important life in the church and normally are dedicated to the Church and Christ more than most others. And no doubt that Sr Bartholomea served the community in the field of education, social service and also in many other ways for the betterment of the community.

And finally to the Sisters of Charity fraternity- “As you serve the Lord with all your heart and his life shines through you to light the way for others, may you rejoice in knowing what a difference you are making in His kingdom. For the work, love and goodwill that you spread throughout the Sisters of Charity Congregation and community, may God bless you all “. Long Live the Sisters of Charity!

About Sisters of Charity-Mangaluru Province:

The year 1898 was a year of grace when four courageous missionaries set foot on the soil of Mangaluru and planted the precious sapling of the Institute in its fertile soil, whose presence was already existing since 1860 in West Bengal. The famous Fr. Muller Hospital is known all over India and also in various parts of the world and its founder Fr. Augustus Muller S.J. felt the need of qualified and reliable personnel to work in this newly opened hospital. Mother Angela Ghezzi, then Superior General complied with the Bishop’s request and sent four generous Italian sisters. The pioneering group was received with a warm welcome by Fr. Muller and the staff.

Though the sisters nursed the leprosy patients and others with much love and care, they had difficulty in speaking English and Konkani. Therefore Fr. A. Muller sent them away from the hospital. God in His providence was following them and inspired them to follow another way. The sisters in their suffering found the strength to stay on and overcome all obstacles. They moved to the orphanage at Jeppu and started their apostolate and in this way laid the solid foundation of the Mangaluru Mission. In 1899 the first Indian Novitiate was opened in Jeppu where the Institute’s missionary vocation found an excellent nourishing ground and as a matter of fact, like a healthy tree it flourished and bore new shoots.

The sisters, who were always cheerful and gentle, reserved and affable, conquered the hearts of the children and their families. In 1912, the sisters were called back to Father Muller’s Hospital at Kankanady. The patients received a lot of maternal love, tender care, affection, and comfort. They experienced physical as well as spiritual healing from the enthusiastic sisters. Besides assisting patients the sisters undertook the responsible task of training nurses for the healing ministry.

Struck with admiration by the selfless, dedicated services of the sisters coupled with refined Christ-like charity, they were requested to open houses in different parts of India. The ever increasing number of communities and developmental works and the great distance between the communities proved a big disadvantage for the provincial superiors to visit the sisters. Therefore, in 1932 the communities were formed into two provinces: the Province of Mangaluru in South Canara, with its provincial headquarters in Mangaluru and Sr. Ester Picciali as its provincial Superior and the Province of Bengal with its provincial headquarters in Krishnagar and Sr. Davidica Acquistapace as its provincial superior.

In 1936 the already existing novitiate at Jeppu was shifted to Holy Angels’ Convent, Belvedere – Angelore. Inspired by the loving and selfless service of the sisters many young girls joined the congregation and the number of the sisters increased and hence the number of communities. Therefore in 1962 the Mangaluru Province was bifurcated into Mangaluru and Secunderabad Provinces. Again in 1978 Mangaluru Province was further bifurcated into Mangaluru and Calicut provinces and in 1998 some of the communities of Mangaluru province formed part of the new province of Dharwad. In 2010 the communities present in Nepal became part of the New Delhi province. In 2007 Mangaluru and Dharwad Inter-provincial Novitiate was started at Belvedere in Angelore, Mangaluru.

Today Mangaluru province has 38 communities, 5 off-shoots and around 400 sisters present in the states of Karnataka and Kerala. It has sent many missionary sisters to mission lands. At present, they render their service in Italy, Africa, Japan, London, California, Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand. They are present in the Dioceses of Mangaluru, Archdiocese of Bangalore, Chikmagalure, Udupi, Shimoga, Mysore, Gulbarga and Karvar. Sr. Matilda Monteiro is the present Provincial Superior.