City’s Historic ’Apostolic Carmel’ Echos the Yester Years

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 19, 2020: The Apostolic Carmel, a pioneer order of nuns of South India and Mangalore, celebrated  “The Keepers of the Flame"  today  November 19, 2020 at St Ann’s Convent, Mangalore, the cradle of the Apostolic Carmel here.  It was on November 19, 1870 when the flame of “Carmel for the Missions"  was passed  on by Foundress Venerable Mother Veronica of the Passion to burn brightly on the Indian soil.  Mangalore is the historic spot to remember.

To launch and commemorate this historical day, on 18th November, the founding mothers and the members of the congregation who are enjoying their eternal joy were fondly  remembered with a requiem Mass celebrated by Rev Fr Archibald Gonsalves OCD.  Thereafter, a Prayer Service was conducted in the cemetery during which Sister  Nirmalini, the Superior General, Sister Agatha Mary the former Superior General,  Sister Maria Karuna and Sister Shamita the Provincial Superiors of Southern and  Karnataka Province laid wreathes on the graves of Superiors General.

The historic day, of November 19,  dawned with an intonation of ancient ’Te Deum’  a song of Thanks giving,  sung in every community for the Morning Prayer. A Thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral offered by Mangalore Bishop Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldana along with 60 other priests added joy
and festivity to the event.

The cultural extravaganza began with an opening chorus followed by a traditional welcome dance. The Provincial Superior Sr Shamita welcomed the dignitaries and the  gathering. A befitting felicitation was accorded to Rev. Fr Pius James D’souza OCD, Fr  Melwyn Pinto SJ, Rector of St Aloysius College, Fr Alfred Pinto, Rector Rosario Cathedral for their unstinted support for the Congregation. Sr Maria Nirmalini,  Superior General; Sr Agatha Mary, former Superior General and Sr Jacintha OCD too were honoured on this occasion. Bishop Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldhana was also  felicitated for his pastoral care.

The Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel Sr Nirmalini in her message urged the  sisters to go down the memory lane of 150 years in gratitude to the Almighty and to  leap into the future with a commitment to the least and the lost. Bishop most Rev. Peter Paul Saldana in his message applauded the noble work of the Apostolic Carmel  Congregation, with a special mention of how their mission of educating girls in India  has worthily contributed towards the upliftment of the society.  The cultural programme had in it, ‘an Echo of the Yester Years’ which was enacted  powerfully and sentimentally through a musical drama. The dances portrayed culture   and traditions of the places touched by the pioneering sisters who spread the Carmel  Mission.The angelic voices of the choir kept the audience still and spell bound. The  narrators were at their best, synchronizing the role, the music and the acting of the  play.   Sr Linet DSouza proposed the vote of thanks. The jubilee anthem composed by Sr Clarice A.C and sung by the choir at the end was another beginning to the next mile stone of Carmel Mission which has spread the great light in the region and taken to all corners of the world from the flame lit here , leading towards new hope, new light and new direction for the future world.