Media Release
Vijayawada, Jan 3: MSI sisters with the congregation leader, Sr Antonella gathered in the newly built Nirmala Auditorium to celebrate the 75 years of the arrival of the first six Italian sisters to India and render thanks to the almighty God for the incredible way he has used them to be a blessing to the people, on December 21 in Vijayawada.
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds, his right arm has won victory for him for he has revealed his saving power to the nations,” sang the choir, praising God through the words of Psalm 98, for the saving action of Jesus Christ through the church’s missionary work.
Bishop Raja Rao of Vijayawada, who presided over the solemn eucharistic celebration with several priests called upon the assembly to count their blessings and give thanks to God for the marvels He has worked among them in these past 75 years in their first mission field in India.
As Abraham was called out of the land of Haran to go to the promised land with the blessings inherent to that divine call, the MSI’s came to Vijayawada and became a benediction to the people of the land with their evangelization activities, healing, schooling, ministry of consolation, of social renewal among the poor, down trodden and the lepers, he stated.
As Abraham, the MSI sisters inherited God’s choicest blessings and increased in numbers and ministries and became three provinces and one delegation and also sent the missionaries to the overseas missions, he pointed out. He invited the sisters gathered in large numbers for the celebration to render thanks to God for the wonderful legacy and provisions God has bestowed upon them and made them a blessing to the people he has sent.
“Vijayawada diocese is a witness to your ministry of evangelization,” declared the prelate. We saw and testify to the work of the MSI sisters down the years, he affirmed. The bishop congratulated the sisters for following their divine call and shouldering the mission with the dedication of the apostles to spread the word of God and build the local church.
If the Pime priests can be called as the ‘Fathers of Faith’ for the Vijayawada diocese, MSI sisters are the ‘Mothers of Faith,’ the bishop acknowledged with gratitude.
The celebration opened up with the introduction, and welcome given by Sr. Sundari, the province counselor, who related the facts and figures of the 75 years historical mission path trodden by the MSI sisters starting from the remote village of Gudivada where the first six sisters had pitched their tent. The video clippings of the times gone by brought to the minds of the assembly the sacrifices and hardships of the beginnings. Seventy-five sisters of various ranks and files carried the lighted candles in procession to be placed at the altar in the entrance procession.
The assembly thanked God for the 17 batches of Italian sisters who dared to set foot following the first mission sending and then the saga of Indian sisters joining the congregation with the same ardor and zeal to preach the word all over the world. Intercessory prayers were offered for the present needs of the congregation especially for the upcoming 12th general chapter and for the world which is regaling in the darkness of the war and conflicts all over the world.
After the holy Eucharistic celebration four Indian sisters of the first batch who were professed in 1958 and others who played a significant role in the life of the congregation in India were especially honoured. The help given at the beginnings by the sisters of St Ann’s of providence and St Ann’s of Luzern was gratefully acknowledged. The year- long prayers and holy hours offered prior to the Jubilee celebration had prepared the entire congregation in India to thank God for His mercy and grace to celebrate and continue the mission path, said the provincial leader, Sr Blanche D’Mello in her vote of thanks at the end of the religious service. After the celebration everyone was treated with a sumptuous festive dinner.