Dinajpur (AsiaNews) – The Catechist Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Queen of Angels (known as Shanti Rani Sisters) have three new members.
Yesterday, novices Presilla Hembrom, Ratri Nirmola Reberio, and Shuvrota Lucy Mrong (two tribal and one Bengali), took their first vow of religious life. Bishop Sebastian Tudu led the Mass in the cathedral church in Dinajpur.
The Shanti Rani Sisters were founded by the PIME mission in 1951, thanks to Bishop Giuseppe Obert and Fr Francesco Ghezzi. Mother Enrichetta Motta was the first educator.
The Shanti Rani Sisters currently number 168, with some working abroad as missionaries. Joining the congregation was a source of joy and satisfaction for the new members.
“From my childhood I have always liked the religious life,” said Presilla Hembrom, an ethnic Santal originally from the Diocese of Rajshahi.
“I was able to closely observe the nuns, and their life attracted me a lot,” she added; so much so that now she wants to be a witness of Christ and “transform people's lives by preaching the Gospel.”
Sister Beena S. Rozario, Shanti Rani superior general, congratulated the new Sisters and welcomed them into the congregation.
“I thank the parents of our new Sisters,” she said. “May the Almighty God bless you for your sacrifice of sending us your daughters,”.
Bishop Sebastian Tudu of Dinajpur welcomed the new Sisters as well, congratulating them for the courageous choice they made.
"God has chosen you for his work. You have heard God's call,” he noted. “Now your job is to preach the Gospel, which is holy work. You will be rewarded for God's blessing in your life.”
The prelate also thanked the families and, in his homily, he asked relatives and lay people to pray for the Sisters and support them and all men and women religious.
