India celebrates 75 years of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate
by sr. Benigna Menezes
In 2011 the women's congregation linked to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) celebrated its platinum jubilee. Born December 8, 1936, the sisters are dedicated to evangelization ad gentes, to reach thousands of people around the world. In addition to the 64 communities in India, the missionaries are in Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Hong Kong, Africa, Algeria and London.
Vijayawada (AsiaNews) - "The platinum Jubilee [75 years] is an occasion to remember past events and people who have worked with your mission, given by God to reach the thousands of people around the world, marking an era of evangelization activities." So said the Msgr. Mallavarapu Prakash, Bishop of Vijayawada, in his homily for the Mass of the platinum jubilee of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate, on December 6 in Vijayawada.
"In particular", said the bishop, "you have been called and chosen as a missionary to be holy and devoted to God and to manifest in your life the presence of Christ."
The closing ceremony of the jubilee year of platinum was held in the premises of the Missionaries of the Immaculate High School in Vijayawada. Thousands of people were present, each representing the different areas that affect the mission of the religious. A group of lay collaborators of the missionaries participated in the celebration of the Immaculate.
Archbishop Chinnappa, of the Diocese of Madras-Mylapore, asked the missionary to thank God for the wonderful way in which he led the congregation to serve the cause of evangelization.
The archbishop, a special guest at the function, praised the vision and mission of the founders and one of the first female missionary congregations, who joined the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), long before Vatican II.
With songs and hymns composed for the occasion, the choir of 30 Immaculate missionaries thanked God for the wonderful way in which He has chosen them to be prophets and servants to preach the word of the Lord, to heal the sick, to release prisoners and to announce the Kingdom of grace and peace of God on earth.
In procession, 75 girls carried 75 candles and placed them around the altar to represent the gift of the 75-year mission that God has given to the congregation.
Sister Marina, provincial superior, expressed her gratitude to God for the blessing of these 75 years. Then the nun recalled the sacrifice, devotion, service and love of so many nuns, in particular of the 56 Italian missionaries and others who, faithful to the charism of the congregation, have sowed the seed of faith in these last 75 years.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, a powerpoint presentation outlined the 75-year history of missionary work by the sisters, along with local churches. The alumni association offered guests a lavish party to honor the nuns' platinum anniversary.
The congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate was born December 8, 1936, when two women, Sister Josephine and Sister Josephine Dones Ridolfi, knelt before the image of the Immaculate and dedicated themselves to the cause of evangelization of the nations in the heart of the Church.
The decision to found a women's order of missionaries to work with the PIME mission in Hong Kong was made in 1934 and passed by the General Assembly of the PIME. Former Superior General of PIME Fr. Paul Hanna, beatified by John Paul II in 2001, and Msgr. Balconies Lorenzo, for 33 years a missionary in China, helped the fledgling congregation take shape in the bosom of the Church under the spiritual patronage of Mary Immaculate.
The first missionary came from the Bezwada mission, when the bishop of the PIME, Msgr. Dominic Grassi, asked Msgr. Balconi if the religious could work in the new mission of the diocese of Vijayawada. On October 2, 1948, six Italian nuns reached Vijayawada and started their work, without knowing the local culture and language. The stifling heat of the area was merciless and two sisters died within a year from malaria and typhoid fever.
Without being discouraged by this tragedy, the congregation sent other sisters, and spread the mission to work with the blessing of God. Today, there are 64 communities in India, and others have reached different areas in Africa, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, London, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Algeria, with over a thousand missionaries.
"In particular", said the bishop, "you have been called and chosen as a missionary to be holy and devoted to God and to manifest in your life the presence of Christ."
The closing ceremony of the jubilee year of platinum was held in the premises of the Missionaries of the Immaculate High School in Vijayawada. Thousands of people were present, each representing the different areas that affect the mission of the religious. A group of lay collaborators of the missionaries participated in the celebration of the Immaculate.
Archbishop Chinnappa, of the Diocese of Madras-Mylapore, asked the missionary to thank God for the wonderful way in which he led the congregation to serve the cause of evangelization.
The archbishop, a special guest at the function, praised the vision and mission of the founders and one of the first female missionary congregations, who joined the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), long before Vatican II.
With songs and hymns composed for the occasion, the choir of 30 Immaculate missionaries thanked God for the wonderful way in which He has chosen them to be prophets and servants to preach the word of the Lord, to heal the sick, to release prisoners and to announce the Kingdom of grace and peace of God on earth.
In procession, 75 girls carried 75 candles and placed them around the altar to represent the gift of the 75-year mission that God has given to the congregation.
Sister Marina, provincial superior, expressed her gratitude to God for the blessing of these 75 years. Then the nun recalled the sacrifice, devotion, service and love of so many nuns, in particular of the 56 Italian missionaries and others who, faithful to the charism of the congregation, have sowed the seed of faith in these last 75 years.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, a powerpoint presentation outlined the 75-year history of missionary work by the sisters, along with local churches. The alumni association offered guests a lavish party to honor the nuns' platinum anniversary.
The congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate was born December 8, 1936, when two women, Sister Josephine and Sister Josephine Dones Ridolfi, knelt before the image of the Immaculate and dedicated themselves to the cause of evangelization of the nations in the heart of the Church.
The decision to found a women's order of missionaries to work with the PIME mission in Hong Kong was made in 1934 and passed by the General Assembly of the PIME. Former Superior General of PIME Fr. Paul Hanna, beatified by John Paul II in 2001, and Msgr. Balconies Lorenzo, for 33 years a missionary in China, helped the fledgling congregation take shape in the bosom of the Church under the spiritual patronage of Mary Immaculate.
The first missionary came from the Bezwada mission, when the bishop of the PIME, Msgr. Dominic Grassi, asked Msgr. Balconi if the religious could work in the new mission of the diocese of Vijayawada. On October 2, 1948, six Italian nuns reached Vijayawada and started their work, without knowing the local culture and language. The stifling heat of the area was merciless and two sisters died within a year from malaria and typhoid fever.
Without being discouraged by this tragedy, the congregation sent other sisters, and spread the mission to work with the blessing of God. Today, there are 64 communities in India, and others have reached different areas in Africa, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, London, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Algeria, with over a thousand missionaries.
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