Ursuline sisters celebrates perpetual profession

Ursuline sisters celebrates perpetual profession

I J Saldanha Shet, Mangalore

Mangalore, April 16: The Ursuline franciscan Sisters (UFS) are jubilantly gathered at St.Francis Xavier’s Church, Bijey Mangalore to celebrate the ’Perpetual Profession’ or ’Final Vows’ of 23 junior sisters on April 16. At 10.am sharp the 23 nuns along with their family members, well wishers entered the church to solemnly pledge them selves to the service of Christ and His people forever. The solemn ceremony within the Eucharistic Mass was led by the Bishop of Mangalore Rev.Dr.Aloysius P.D’Souza, a large number of priests and the senior sisters of the Ursulines headed by Rev.Sr.Doreen.D’Souza, Superior General. 

 

  

The proclamation of the special day - ’Behold LORD here I come to do Your will’ sung in chaste Konkani echoed from the hearts of the twenty three nuns as they took the final step in their life long commitment of the Ursuline motto "FOR THE LOVE of GOD"! The packed church was a witness to this miracle.  The focal point of the rituals was when each of the twenty three nuns who had taken their initial vows for between 4 to 7 years, in preparation, knelt before their Superior General and solemnly pronounced their allegiance and vowed the three statutory vows - Poverty, Obedience and Chastity for life, blessed by the Bishop and all the priests. After the mass a gathering of fellowship followed to mark the singular occasion. Unlike ordination of Priests, this celebration does not constitute a sacrament  in the life of a Roman Catholic; seven sacraments are prescribed by the Church.

 The Ursuline Congregation was founded in Mangalore around the Rosario Cathedral by it’s first Parish Priest, a German, Rev.Fr.Urban.Stein in 1887. This saintly priest was assisted in this mission by a local resident lady of the community, Mother Nympha Fernandez. On the untimely passing away of the founder Fr.Stein in October.1888, Mother Nympha was chosen to lead the small band of informal sisters. Soon afterwards this courageous leader of the Ursulines, obtained a plot of land and constructed the first formal convent, which stands to date as the foundation house just behind the Cathedral. There has been Divine continuity to this day.

 
Today this dynamic congregation of sisters is more than 850 strong and serving all categories of peoples as educators,empowerers,care-givers and more in many parts of India and a few places abroad. On this beautiful day twenty three more committed and empowered young sisters are added for the service of man-kind and GOD! It is a red letter day surely!