SMI Presence at Dhanbasa in the Diocese of Bhagalpur, India

We began our presence in the newly erected parish of Dhanbasa as an extension of our Leela community in view of establishing a community later. On 17 March, Sr. Lisa Kalathil, Provincial Superior of Delhi accompanied our pioneers Sr. Paulette Bilung and Sr. Bency Thekkeparambil to Dhanbasa. On Sunday, 18 March 2012, Rt. Rev. Kurien Valiakandathil, Bishop of Bhagalpur inaugurated our presence in Dhanbasa through a simple opening ceremony. Rev Fr. Joachim Viegas, Parish Priest, organized a meaningful liturgy together with the parishioners. Our Sisters from Leela and Basaha were present for the occasion.

SMI Nati House Blessed

Sr. Lisette Thuruthimattam, our Superior General inaugurated the reconstructed Nati House in Kolkata on 11 April 2012. Most Rev. Thomas D’Souza, Archbishop of Calcutta blessed the new building and presided at the solemn Eucharistic celebration with 20 priests. A good number of our Sisters, friends and well wishers were present for the occasion.

The origin of Nati House: In 1957 our dearly beloved Father Founder, Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow purchased this house for us with great foresight. His first and foremost purpose was to qualify our Sisters for our mission of Evangelization and Catechesis, especially in his diocese of Krishnagar. God provided him with the funds necessary through one of his most devout and generous benefactor, Miss Maria Natividad Marquez, to whom we are highly indebted and therefore the name Nati House.

Father Bishop came in contact with Miss Marquez when he was secretary to the Apostolic Delegate in Manila, Philippines. She, along with many others, became one of his spiritual children, and dedicated her whole life for the cause of Father Bishop’s literary works and missionary endeavors in Manila, U.S.A. and India. Natita took her Doctorate in Philosophy when only 18 years old; and when she graduated from the University of the Philippines, she received a gold medal as the top-ranking student.

In February 1957 at the age of 56 while assisting Father Bishop with his secretarial and literary work, living with us at our Motherhouse, she suffered a stroke and returned to heaven after a week. Her entire life was one of complete dedication, and self effacement in the service of God. In her will she had left to Father Bishop all her belongings, her family legacy to purchase this house of study. Hence we keep her in our prayers and grateful memory.

Renovated Sachidanand Hospital, SMI Captainganj Inaugurated

On 15 April 2012, Sr. Lisette Thuruthimattam, our Superior General inaugurated the renovated Sachidanand Hospital. Sister’s beloved brother, Rt. Rev. Thomas Thurtuhimattam, Bishop of Gorakhpur blessed the hospital and concelebrated the Holy Eucharist with nine priests.

We gratefully remembered Rev. Fr. Jean Maria Vianney, OFM, who invited us, with the permission of Bishop Patrick Paul D’Souza of Varanasi Diocese, whose guidance, concern and support we enjoyed until the new diocese of Gorakpur was erected.

We are indeed grateful to God, our most loving and tender Father for the growth of our presence of 40 years in the soil of Captainganj, providing health and wholeness to thousands of poor, rich and sick people irrespective of caste and creed.

Sister Esther Thekekuruvinal SMI called to our Eternal Home

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me, where I am” (Jn 14: 1-3).

True to this promise, Sister Esther was called Home on Saturday, 21 April 2012 at 7.20 p.m. at the age of 68. We feel certain that our Blessed Mother in whose sweet name she was baptized and whose maternal assistance she always sought took her to our Father’s Home.

Sister was born on 14 April 1944, at Idamattam, Kottayam Dt., Kerala, as the youngest child of Thomas and Mary. Of the five children, three girls and two boys, Mary, later Sister Esther, was chosen to be a religious, to the happiness of all.

She arrived as a candidate at our Motherhouse, Krishnagar, West Bengal in 1963, and was privileged to profess her first vows in 1967 in the presence of our Father Founder, Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow. She made her final vows in 1976. Thereafter, qualified as a teacher, she taught with dedication and love in our schools at Berhampore, Raghabpur, Delhi, and our formees at Kalamassery and Motherhouse. They loved her dearly as she was a loving and efficient teacher.

She has served the people through our communities in West Bengal, Kerala, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand with a true a missionary heart, commitment and courage. She was a victim of severe diabetes for long years. We gratefully remember her with the gestures of love she lavished on us in different ways. She was able to receive Holy Communion daily and responded to the prayers and hymns we sang to her. On 21 April our beloved Sister Esther returned to our Father’s Home quietly and serenely at 7.20 p.m. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in our parish cemetery at Krishnagar.

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