Watch a brief of the profession of Sr. Yoginia Rymbai: https://youtu.be/uSDXaboF8Bw

You made a difference!!!

27^th April 2025 is the most memorable day of my life. From my early childhood, I had an earnest desire to be a religious sister. I didn’t know how to go about it or how I would become one, but suddenly I feel all my dreams realised as I walked to the altar to make my commitment to Jesus to be His for my lifetime. I made my First Profession on 27^th April. It was never a smooth journey for me, but I would thank God for always being with me.

I am one of the 10 siblings. My father is the only breadwinner, but he gave us all a decent education. He knew that in educating us, he was giving us a lifetime security. My parents instilled faith in me so I could see the ups and downs of my life as a journey guided by God. I wasn’t a good student. Studies were difficult for me and I felt this would be the greatest impediment to my life. My sisters came to my village, picked me and they did everything to get me educated. They have dedicated their energies and efforts to make sure that I get the basic education required for entering religious life.

Once I cleared elementary education and later higher schooling, I was accepted as a postulant and from then on I found my dreams get wings. During my postulancy and novitiate, all my formators were understanding towards me. They brought the formation to a level understandable for me and ignited the love for the congregation day in and day out. I had no doubts when I had to finally give my ‘yes’ to the Lord and the congregation.

I am in debt to all the sisters of the province who accompanied me through my initial years of formation. I was moulded and fashioned each day into the life of a Carmelite Missionary by the tireless efforts of the sisters. The provincials and councils who accepted me into the province and finally gave me my First Profession have constantly been a source of encouragement. I was also honoured to meet Sr. Lila Rosa, our General, during her visit. Her motherly advice helped me strengthen my vocation.

I want to acknowledge that I am sincerely grateful for all the love, care, concern, and acceptance I have received from the congregation. I would spend my life in thanksgiving to the Lord and in grateful service to the congregation.

 

Sr. Yoginia Rymbai

First year Junior

India. 

Celebration of Love and Service

 Celebration of Love and Service

We all make commitments daily but to commit to something for a lifetime these days is worth applauding. Today, two of our young sisters - Meena Jancy and Sonia Delcita Mendonca decide to offer their lives in service of God and man. It was a joyous occasion for the sisters of St. Francis Xavier Province, India. The celebration began with great enthusiasm with the lyrical voice of our postulants. Their voices added not just melody but lifted our spirits to match the occasion. The profession was held at St Antony's  Church, Kodathi on 2^nd February 2025.

The Eucharist was concelebrated by nine priests from different parishes. The main celebrant was  Fr Arul Swamy Stephen, a priest from the hometown of Sr. Meena Jancy. During the homily Fr. Arul creatively constructed the acronym of MEENA and SONIA with the resounding qualities of a religious. He admonished them to be very adjustable and homely and live an enthusiastic missionary life, giving essence to their consecration. He also mentioned how the love for our Mother can help us to have perseverance in our vocation. He consolidated with his own childhood experiences.

Soon after the mass there was a small reception in the parish Hall which was marked by a felicitation program and cake cutting ceremony. Our postulants enthralled the audience with a thrilling dance. After the felicitation of the Final Professed Sisters, Provincial – Sr. Marykutty Mathew, sisters, priests and other important dignitaries, family, friends and parishioners were served lunch.

The ambience was prayerful and those who participated were moved by the proceedings of the final profession. The priests and people were taken up and they prayed that we be blessed with many vocations. Some priests did enthusiastically invite us to their parishes for vocation promotion.

St. Francis Xavier Province

INDIA

https://youtube.com/shorts/CgOhiH-MyDA

 

A life well spent meets the Lord

 

Birth Bicentenary of Juana Gratias

 It was a moment of pride to recall and to tell the people about the first Carmelite Missionary - Juana Gratias. We tried to make a short documentary. All our communities enthusiastically celebrated the birth bicentenary and they involved the CMS. The CMS was enthralled to participate in this historic moment. 

The birthday was the initiative from the Generalate and our sisters keenly followed the guidelines given. There were four corners mentioned for the celebration namely Corner of Laughter

                                Corner of Friendship

                                Corner of Palautian Friendship

                                Corner of Music

Apart from these corners, there was a mention of some of the letters of Fr. Palau to Juana which was also highlighted during the celebrations. 

The CMS participated with greater fervour in all the celebrations. They did come to our communities and participated in the Eucharist and shared meals with us. It was a great experience to know the struggles Juana went through and how she surmounted above all struggles and tried to fulfill the dreams and vision of Fr. Palau.

She is a classic example of how we turn odds into opportunities. She is a model for all of us sisters to remain faithful to the charism and to the call. Fr. Palau said "To live in Carmel, I need only one thing - vocation." But Juana showed it in her life. She was the scorn of even her own sisters and she was sidelined yet she remained faithful to her call as a religious. She didn't have a dignified life, even at death no one claimed her but today she enjoys the heavenly bliss with our Lord.

May we emulate her virtues and fidelity in our life.

Renewal of Life

 Renewal of the Vows of our Juniors

We pray for our sisters that God may bless them abundantly in all that they do and may strengthen them to follow on His path with greater fidelity.

Glimpses of the XIII Provincial Chapter- Video

Kindly open the link to watch the video

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBNtB8o73Wmh0Dma4U5E9V49ZPd3klxo/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBNtB8o73Wmh0Dma4U5E9V49ZPd3klxo/view?usp=sharing

Thanks to the outgoing Provincial team -: 2021 - 23

 

Congratulations dear sisters

 

Congratulations dear Sr. Marykutty Mathew

 Sr. Marykutty Mathew

Our New Superior Provincial

XIII Provincial Chapter

XIII Provincial Chapter 

Province of St. Francis xavier, India

26/6/2024  to  5/7/2024

Inaugural ceremony of the Chapter

Delegates of Chapter

Incardination of Japan to Indian Province

The Holy Eucharist

 Congratulations dear Sr. Marina on the day of your final Commitment to the Lord in the family of Carmelite Missionaries. God bless you and your family. 

LILA ROSA RAMIREZ MONTES

has been elected as our new General Superior of the Carmelite Missionaries. With her 

team, she will lead the Congregation in the next sexennium 2024 – 2030.

 

Wishes for the General Chapter

 Dear Sisters 

Wishing you all the prayerful wishes for the General Chapter from the Province of India. 

United with you all. 

Gratitude towards our General and Councillors

 

 " I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." Jn:11:25 

Jesus our Lord we believe you are the resurrection and the life. We thank you for the beautiful life of  Sr. Lilly Grace which she accomplished on this earthly journey by living her life for you and now entered into your heavenly life. Loving Lily you have won the eternal crown after battaling your life on this earth. Your love for Jesus and mission, done for the congregation and people will be never forgotten. We your companions Sarita, Roma and Manisha  remain  ever grateful for your companionship from the time of our formation till you said final good bye to us. The soul which we have lost may be gone but you will be never forgotten till we say goodbye to our own earthly journey.You live and will live  in our cherished memories always. Let's remain united always, You from above and we  from below here. Once again thank you so much. Pray for us as you are near to Jesus now.

By

Sr. Roma 

Its Adieu sis

 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Henceforth 

there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness”.

The words of St Paul can well be applied to the life and the person of our beloved Sr. Arul Lilly Grace who was called to heavenly abode on the 13th January 2024, at the prime age of 45 out of which 22 years are lived as Carmelite Missionary in the Province of St Francis Xavier, India. 

Sr. Arul Lilly Grace Antony Samy was born on 15thApril 1978 at Sethidal, Tamil Nadu, India to Antony Samy Santhapan and Mangala Jaya Rani. She is the eldest of three siblings, a brother and a sister. She entered the Postulancy on the 29th June 1998 in Ahmedabad and Novitiate on the 21st May 1999, made temporary vows on the 6th May 2001 in Pune, and final vows on 25th May 2010 at Prithi Kunj, Mumbai. She served in Dediapada and rendered her service as a Bursar. At the time of her death she was a local superior in Bangalore. By profession she was a Dentist and she held Diploma in religious sciences.

Sr. Lilly Grace loved her vocation and lived it faithfully with much love and dedicated service. She was very diligent in carrying out her responsibilities. She never compromised her values and always stood for truth and was willing to pay the consequences. Straight forward by nature, because of which she was not always liked by others. She was genuine in her commitment and relationships. She cared for others with utmost sincerity and without counting the cost. She had the ability to endure hardships with faith and courage and a silent sufferer. Sympathetic in her dealings, she had special love for the least and the lost, ready and willing for any kind of service in spite of ill health. Lilly was a passionate missionary.

She was diagnosed with Scleroderma an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and fibrosis in the skin and other areas of the body. When she was diagnosed of her infirmity she accepted it with great faith and courage and took utmost importance in taking care of herself without neglecting her duties. When her family came to know about the disease they requested her to return home, which she politely refused and never compromised her YES to the Lord.

 

With great confidence and power in the Mighty Healer Jesus Christ, she continued her life as a Carmelite Missionary. “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” She did not look back though she knew what could be the end of this illness. 

Since December she had been suffering with fever and chest congestion, cold and cough but continued with her usual medication without going for further investigation. When the situation worsened, she was admitted to Ambika Nursing Home on the 22nd of December 2023 and was shifted to the ICU at St. John’s Medical Institute on the 23rd December. She showed certain improvement as doctors treated and there were hopes of recovery. However, her health started declining and was in and out of ICU for 3 weeks, eventually her health deteriorated rapidly and breathed her last on the 13th January 2024, where all her pains and sufferings came to an end.

The grain of wheat has fallen into the ground yielding fruit in abundance. Thank you dear Sr. Lilly, for being an instrument in the hand of the Lord in making Him known near and far by your life of love and compassion, commitment and surrender. Yes, Arul Lilly Grace with the strength and grace of the Lord has run the race, fought the good fight and now enjoys His presence wearing the crown of glory in the Lord. Though you are not physically with us, your love for all especially the sick and ailing, the poor and the downtrodden will be cherished for the days to come. Thank you dear sister for your gift of life, vocation and your exemplary life. 

The last rite of Sr. Arul Lilly Grace was held on the 14th January 2024, in Christa Parbhalaya Church, Jayanagar, Bangalore, presided over by Rev. Fr. Peter Mascarenhas, SMM, the Provincial Superior of Montfort fathers, in the presence of her parents, relatives, priests, nuns, people and sisters from various communities. Sr. Philomena Menezes, the Provincial Superior expressed her gratitude to all those who were present and served her during her illness. Her mortals were laid in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Brigade road, Bangalore.

Yours O Lord Forever

 https://youtube.com/watch?v=bBW4pmhwgAs&si=gis4oNxHADk5BzDj

Final yes to God

 

Service to man is service to God

 

God loves a Cheerful giver

On 13th and 14th November the Archdiocese of Ranchi had organised the Krusver Rally for all the catechism children for different parishes. We encouraged our parish children to take part in it enthusiastically and increase their love for Jesus. 

“No one has ever become poor by giving others.” 

                   - Ann Frank. 

The science club of our School under the guidance  of our school principal Sr. Manisha had conducted various activities in the neighbouring government schools to help and teach them the basics of life. All the members of science club teachers along with students and sisters went to conduct activities for the poor children in the government schools. 

VISIT TO ASHA NGO 

“Not for ourselves alone are we born.” 

                                           - Marcus Cicero. 

Sr. Manisha the Principal had taken initiative to help  the poor and needy children of the society. Therefore on 10th November the school Social club had organised the visit to ASHA NGO which works for the upliftment of the orphan children and women.  32 students from our school, sisters and teachers went to visit the NGO. It was a wonderful experience to see the activities of the NGO who is working for the children and women.  We expressed our love for them through  a small programme along with a good contribution from our school donated by our students in the form of money, clothes and snacks.  Through these ways and means we are trying to sensitize and saw the seeds of charity to the humanity in the minds and hearts of our children. 

National Convention of CMS