April 23rd is a day to be marked in red letters in the annals of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation as 15 Sisters of the Congregation pronounced their perpetual vows during the solemn Eucharistic celebration officiated by Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha Bishop of Mangalore diocese and concelebrated by 35 priests both religious and diocesan. It was held at St Vincent Farrar Church, Valencia, Mangalore. Rev Sr Milly Fernandes the Superior General received their perpetual vows.
April 23rd is a day to be marked in red letters in the annals of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation as 15 Sisters of the Congregation pronounced their perpetual vows during the solemn Eucharistic celebration officiated by Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha Bishop of Mangalore diocese and concelebrated by 35 priests both religious and diocesan. It was held at St Vincent Farrar Church, Valencia, Mangalore. Rev Sr Milly Fernandes the Superior General received their perpetual vows.
Bishop in his homily said that in the light of the word of God and strength of the Holy Spirit these consecrated religious Sisters spread the light of Christ which they received through the baptism. He also said, “Kingdom of God is being realized and experienced in and through the life of Religious, it is seen through their sacrifice. Religious are the inspiration to live a life of sacrifice in this world.” He appreciated the services of the Religious Sisters very specially in the Homes for Aged where Christ’s compassion and kindness is felt by those inmates. He urged the parents to inspire their children too.
After the Mass there was short felicitation programme in Vincent Ferrer Church hall. The perpetually professed Sisters together with their parents were felicitated and thanked by Rev Sr Milly the Superior General for being generous in offering their daughters to the service of the church and the society. In her address to the Sisters she said, “In the presence of the Church you have pronounced three vows and as St Paul says, through these vows you have nailed yourself to the Cross of Christ.” She encouraged the Sisters to be joyful in the service of the Lord.
Altogether 22 Sisters underwent a year’s spiritual and theological training in preparation for the same in the year 2023. 7 months’ of basic theological studies were held at Maria Niketan Convent, Bogadi, Mysore. 4 months were spent in intense preparation in Somarpann, Generalate, Derlakatte, Mangalore where the focus was inward journey, discernment and self-introspection. Sr Juliana Pinto, General Coordinator for formation accompanied them all through the period of intense preparation. During this time they also had in-depth studies on the Constitutions, Charism and Spirituality of the Congregation and Evangelical Counsels, Pastoral care of the families and live in experience on care of the elderly and destitute.
7 Sisters, belonging to North East Province will pronounce their vows on 30th April 2024 at Assisi Convent, Dimapur Nagaland. Most Rev James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima-Nagaland will officiate at the Holy Eucharist on this auspicious occasion.