SR ANN LEWIS

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.” Mt 25:34

Sr Ann Lewis heard these whispers in her ears as the Lord of life called her to eternal home on 24^th of October and she willingly responded to this call and peacefully flew to the land of the living where there is no more sorrow or pain, neither sickness nor suffering.

Sr Ann Lewis was born on July 22, 1949 to John Lewis and Marceline D Souza as the third child among the six siblings. Her God fearing family belonged to Mother of Mercy Parish, Fajir. Sr Ann whose baptismal name was Santan grew up in an environment of faith and devotion to our Lady. She did early schooling in St Joseph’s Primary School, Fajir and her High school education at Sacred Heart High School, Kulshekar. 

Her family had great respect and love towards the priests and religious and always prayed for vocations to consecrated life during their family prayer. Sr Ann who grew up in this environment and had witnessed the simple and committed life of Ursuline Sisters giving their service in her own parish, moreover having her Aunts Srs Constance and Lucia in the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation decided to dedicate her entire life in the Lord’s service at a young age. Enthusiastic as she was and encouraged by her Aunts, she joined the Congregation in the year 1968 at Holy Rosary Convent Jeppu, Mangalore.

Sr Ann did her Temporary profession on May 10, 1971 and Perpetual profession on May 10,1976. After her temporary profession she was sent to St Aloysius College for Pre –University studies after which she taught at Gnanabodhini Higher Primary school, Kengeri. The authorities saw in young Sr Ann a potential missionary and hence sent her to Mirpur mission in North India after her Perpetual vows. But God’s ways are beyond human perception.  Though Sr Ann began to give her service with all zeal and vigour at the mission station,within a year she had a nervous breakdown and was immediately shifted to Holy Rosary Convent, Jeppu for treatment. Later she was placed in Holy Family Convent, Kengeri and got treated in Bangalore.

The illness did not deter Sr Ann. She accepted this bitter cup and continued her mission as an English teacher. For the past 52 years of her religious life she served in the communities of Bejai, Jeppu,Tumarikop, Mirpur, Kengeri, Udbur, Sutikoppa, Alanahalli and Naganahalli.

For good number of years, she taught English to the candidates of Mysore Province at Holy Family Candidates’ House, Kengeri. She was an excellent teacher. She had mastery over English language and grammar. She became a boon to the Province as the Province found a committed English expert to teach the candidates. She had great love for music and poetry.  She composed poems and at times put tunes and sang them.

Though health issues interrupted her devotion to work and community exercises through her simple life, smiling face and wise words she made sisters drawn to her. She had a soft corner for the Junior Sisters in her community and had always a word of appreciation and encouragement to them. She felt more at home in their company. Generous by nature she had hardly anything that she would own for herself, so much so when she was transferred from communities she would borrow a carry bag from others to take her luggage. She loved silence and in that silence her heart spoke to the Lord. The suffering Lord was her solace and strength till the last breath of her life.

In the third week of September 2023, Sr Ann showed immobility of her limbs and found difficult to move as well as express herself. She was admitted to St Mary’s Community Health Centre, H D Kote under the supervision of Dr Sr Amitha Lobo. As suggested by Sr Amitha she was shifted to St Mary’s Hospital, Mysore South and then as per doctor’s advice to Kamakshi Hospital, Kuvempu Nagar for Neuro care where she was in ICU for a week. Later when the doctors could not diagnose her problem she was shifted again to St Mary’s Community Health Centre, H D Kote. With the care of Dr Sr Amitha, Nursing staff, Sisters of Sanjeevini and Naganahalli Community she showed signs of improvement. On October 12^th she got discharged from the hospital and was taken to Naganahalli Community. Within a week she got confined to bed and gradually her condition became critical. On 22^nd she was administered the sacrament of Anointing of the sick by Rev Fr Antony Swamy, the Parish priest of Naganahalli. Her family members too visited her on the same day that brought much consolation to her. Sisters of the Community, Provincial Superior and her Council, Sisters of the zone visited her on 23^rd and spent time with her in prayer as they foresaw that her time to go to the Lord was nearing. On 24^th morning at 10.05 am she breathed her last in the presence of her community members and departed to that serene place that had been prepared for her from eternity.