By Isaac Harold Gomes
The first sentence His Grace Thomas D’Souza Archbishop of Calcutta uttered on 21st June 2015 during his homily, on the installation of Fr John P. Chalil sdb as the new Parish Priest of Auxilium Parish, was Sister Nirmala was seriously ill and that all should pray for her recovery.
Two days later she was no more.
In an age when political and religious leaders of all hues clamour for media attention, Sister Nirmala, in spite of having succeeded Mother Teresa as the Superior General of Missionaries of Charity in March 1997 and being honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 2009 for her services to the nation, chose a self-effacing contemplative life.
The crowded Funeral Service was held on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at 4.15 p.m., at Mother House. Cardinal Telesphore Toppo led the concelebrated Mass. He was joined by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, Bishop Salvadore Lobo, Vicar General Fr Dominic Gomes, Devraj Fernandes - the new Editor of The Herald, and a number of priests. The VVIPs present at the Mass were Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien and Commissioner of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha.
After the two-hour Mass, Sister Nirmala was taken in a procession to St John’s Church cemetery Sealdah, where her body was buried, after the last rites. CM Mamata Banerjee walked in the funeral procession.
Many had doubted that the introvert missionary would survive after Mother Teresa's death in 1997, but Sister Nirmala with her double black belt (MA in political science and a trained
lawyer) proved them wrong. During her 12-year stewardship the Kolkata-headquartered order grew stronger. Sister Nirmala visited many countries, opened new houses and drew more people to the Missionaries of Charity, which now has over 4,500 religious sisters and activities spread across 133 countries.
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We have a reputation for showering praise when one is no more. The same is happening in the case of Sister Nirmala. When will our community learn to recognise talent when one is alive? In its Pastoral Plan the Social Communications Commission of Calcutta Archdiocese has adopted a novel point - it is to identify and recognise Catholic talents in various fields during one’s lifetime, so as to encourage others. Bravo!
The first sentence His Grace Thomas D’Souza Archbishop of Calcutta uttered on 21st June 2015 during his homily, on the installation of Fr John P. Chalil sdb as the new Parish Priest of Auxilium Parish, was Sister Nirmala was seriously ill and that all should pray for her recovery.
Two days later she was no more.
In an age when political and religious leaders of all hues clamour for media attention, Sister Nirmala, in spite of having succeeded Mother Teresa as the Superior General of Missionaries of Charity in March 1997 and being honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 2009 for her services to the nation, chose a self-effacing contemplative life.
The crowded Funeral Service was held on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at 4.15 p.m., at Mother House. Cardinal Telesphore Toppo led the concelebrated Mass. He was joined by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, Bishop Salvadore Lobo, Vicar General Fr Dominic Gomes, Devraj Fernandes - the new Editor of The Herald, and a number of priests. The VVIPs present at the Mass were Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien and Commissioner of Police Surajit Kar Purkayastha.
After the two-hour Mass, Sister Nirmala was taken in a procession to St John’s Church cemetery Sealdah, where her body was buried, after the last rites. CM Mamata Banerjee walked in the funeral procession.
Many had doubted that the introvert missionary would survive after Mother Teresa's death in 1997, but Sister Nirmala with her double black belt (MA in political science and a trained
lawyer) proved them wrong. During her 12-year stewardship the Kolkata-headquartered order grew stronger. Sister Nirmala visited many countries, opened new houses and drew more people to the Missionaries of Charity, which now has over 4,500 religious sisters and activities spread across 133 countries.
______________________________________
We have a reputation for showering praise when one is no more. The same is happening in the case of Sister Nirmala. When will our community learn to recognise talent when one is alive? In its Pastoral Plan the Social Communications Commission of Calcutta Archdiocese has adopted a novel point - it is to identify and recognise Catholic talents in various fields during one’s lifetime, so as to encourage others. Bravo!
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