Indian missionaries of the Immaculate celebrate Sister Nirmala's jubilee
Vijayawada (AsiaNews) - "I pray and thank God for the amazing blessings that have come into my life" and "I praise the Lord and His mercy for all he accomplished through me in my long 50 years of service as a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate," said Sister Nirmala Addanki at the end of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of her consecration.
The ceremony was held on 17 January 2015 at the Nirmala High School in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Mgr M. D. Praaksham, bishop of Nellore, along with 40 priests, celebrated the Eucharistic service amid the enthusiastic participation of students, friends and family.
As he explained the meaning of the Year of Consecrated Life (proclaimed by Pope Francis), the bishop invited the assembly to thank the Lord for the blessing and support that Sister Nirmala received in the course of her missionary work.
The Mass began with a procession that included relatives and sisters. To symbolise her 50 years of consecrated life, 50 candles were carried and placed on a stage set up for the occasion next to the altar.
As a hymn was sung, a group of Nirmala High students preceded the procession, scattering white petals on its path, as token of welcome. At the end, the candles were placed on either side of the decorated altar.
Sister Nirmala came to the missionaries Sisters through Italian Fathers of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), including Fr Frascogna. He and others baptised the faithful in the local parish in Bhimavaram (West Godavari District), inspiring her.
Since her consecration, Sister Nirmala has helped the Church, the congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate and the community, working for 20 years as an expert in the Telugu language at the Nirmala High School. She has also served as a teacher and outreach operator in evangelisation in various dioceses.
As she said at the end of the mass, she owes a lot to the intervention of the missionary Fathers. It is through their work that "God took me from nowhere to be his bride".
She is equally very grateful to Mother Clara Bellotti "who loved me, educated me and encouraged me to respond to the divine grace of God that was in my heart."
"God was faithful to me all my life and gave me good mental and physical health so that I could act as his channel," she added.
Her nephew Fr Nirmalapathy Raju was among those present. He used the occasion to celebrate his own 25 years in the priesthood and sang an anointed hymn that led the assembly in the penitential rite.
During the homily, the bishop expressed his appreciation for the liturgical preparation of the celebration, as well as for the choice of readings and songs.
He thanked Sister Nirmala for her long period of service to the Church, the congregation and society, and for saying "Yes" to the Lord, as Mary did, that first time.
Many of those who attended the celebration expressed words of gratitude to the bishop and to the nun. They also expressed hope that the Lord may bless her with many more years of work in the service of the community.
*Missionary of Charity, the female congregation associated with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME)
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07/02/2019 17:28
