SR CARMINE LOBO

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (Jn 11: 25). Believing in these words, Sr Carmine Lobo bade farewell to us and entered the heavenly abode. The sun that rises in the east, by law of nature, sets in the west, a flower that blooms at dawn, fades away by evening, every beginning has its end. Similarly, each person passes away from this world to enter into life eternal.  

Sr Carmine Lobo was born on 2^nd July 1953 in St. Joseph’s Parish, Hirebile in Chikmangalore Diocese in a God fearing family of Augustine Lobo and Mary Lobo. Among the ten children, Sr Carmine was the second child in the family. After completing the Hr. Pry. education in Sacred Heart School Hirebile and High School education in St Theresa School Belthangady, she joined the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation on 28^th May 1972. Thereafter, she made her First Profession on 8^th May 1975 and Perpetual Profession on 26^th December 1980 at Holy Rosary Convent Jeppu and committed herself totally to the service of God. She was fortunate to be the first religious Sister in her parish.

Sr Carmine Lobo lived her religious life with Christian spirit, Franciscan joy, faith and dedication. If we glance at her life, she was a person of prayer and simplicity. She was obedient, affectionate, creative and jovial in nature. She kept herself vibrant and active throughout life even in her sickness. Being sensitive in nature, she was quick to understand the difficulties of others and promised her prayerful support to those who were in need. She had a great love and concern for the junior Sisters and encouraged them to persevere in their religious vocation. As an inspiring teacher, she had the talent of attracting the students towards her as she taught them the values of Christ by her life. Being eco-friendly, gardening, planting the saplings and nurturing them was her hobby. Sr Carmine rendered her service at Sacred Heart Convent Chizami, Holy Family Convent Kengeri, Anand Ashram Convent Bhatkal, Fatima Convent Keshwapur, Holy Face Convent Vorkady, St Michael Convent Shanthinagar and Sneha Sangama Convent Bijapur. As a good leader, Sr Carmine had the rich experience of being an animator of the communities at Holy Face Convent Vorkady, Sneha Sangama Covent Bijapur and St Michael Convent Shanthinagar.

As a teacher, she formed her students to be self-disciplined and was concerned about their higher education and gave special attention to the slow-learners. Being ever creative, Sr Carmine was a good trainer in school-band and motivated students to develop leadership skills, musical abilities, and promoted art-related activities in the school campus and made them exhibit their talents during the school programmes. Being interested in pastoral apostolate, teaching the basic catechism to the little children in parishes as well as in schools, animating altar servers, visiting the sick and praying for them was her passion. As a fruit of her pastoral work, many religious vacations have bloomed in our Congregation and in the Church through her.

If we glance at her courage to accept the sickness and suffering, and her resilience,  the words of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12 come alive in her – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Based on these words she had formed her life and made a positive impact on the lives of people through her selfless service and endurance. 

In the year 2021, she became very ill due to high diabetes and heart disease which had an adverse effect on her active life. So she was shifted to Fatima Convent Keshwapur, Hubli for treatment. In April 2023, her health condition worsened and she was taken to Shalom Convent Derlakatte for further treatment where the doctors and nurses of Fr Muller’s Hospital Kankanady and K. S. Hegde Hospital Derlakatte were attending to her with great care. Two weeks prior to her death, she deeply felt that her call to enter the heavenly abode was nearing and therefore made several phone calls to her family members as well as the Sisters and spoke to them. On 14^th July 2024, she became extremely critical during which the Sisters of all the neighboring seven Convents along with the novices accompanied and supported her through their prayers. She expressed her desire to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, receive the Holy Communion as well as the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick which were administered to her by Fr Avinash D’Souza S.J. On 15^th July 2024, at 9.15 a.m. she breathed her last at Shalom Convent Derlakatte. It was a peaceful passing away of our dear Sr Carmine. Her funeral rites took place at Holy Rosary Convent Chapel on 17^th July 2024 at 3.00 p.m. She was interred in the Cathedral Cemetery, Jeppu, Mangalore.

Rev. Fr Daniel Veigas OP the Episcopal Vicar for Religious of Mangalore Diocese celebrated the funeral Mass along with the other Priests. Rev. Fr Sanjay D’Souza the nephew of Sr Carmine broke the word of God and conducted the funeral rites. Our Superior General very Rev. Sr Milly Fernandes and her Councillors, Provincial Superior of Mangalore Province and Council, Sisters from Hubli, Mangalore, Mysore, North and North East Provinces and her family members were present for the funeral service. As we thank God for the gift of Sr Carmine Lobo to our Congregation and the Province, we are grateful to her family members for offering her precious gift to our Congregation and the Church. Adieu dear Sr Carmine. May you rest in peace.