Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 29 : Sr  Irene D’ Souza has just completed 50 years of her religious profession in the Apostolic Carmel congregation. While this is the time to celebrate the event, it is also an opportunity to thank her for serving the downtrodden relentlessly for 5 decades.

Sr Irene was born in a family of 9 children in Urwa in city. Her father Cyril D’ Souza, lived a principled life and mother Agnes D’ Souza, was a loving and homely lady. The couple brought up their children with piety and deep faith in Almighty. These things motivated young Irene to serve the children of God.

Leadership qualities from childhood

Sr Irene was the silver medal recipient in the diocesan catechism exam in 1963. She passed her SSLC with flying colours at Lady Hill School, Urwa. She was also the school pupil leader during 1962-63. She had great interest in sports, mainly cycling. She had won the first prize in slow cycling at district level in 1963 when it was rare for girls to take part in cycling competitions. She was a gold medalist in B. Ed from Uttkal University in Orissa. Right through her life she has displayed leadership qualities.

After her PUC from St Agnes college Mangaluru, she joined the Apostolic Carmel congregation in 1964 and made her first profession on 26 April 1967.

Sr Irene underwent training in Theology and Scripture at Mater Dei, Goa, BTH at De Nobeli College, Pune and MTH at Vidyajyoti, New Delhi. She was vocation promoter for Eastern Province (Kolkata) and she also worked as provincial councilor. She was the superior in various convents in her 50 years service as nun.

Love of poor

Sr Irene is a very good science teacher, being mathematics and physics her forte.

Sr Irene has an inborn love for the poor and the marginalized.

Her mission has been very clear in life, to reach the least in society in the remotest places in the world and to uplift them with basic needs of life: shelter, food, clothing and education. She has served in the North East, Andaman and now zealously renders service in Kenya, Africa, for the past 7 years.

She lives an austere, detached and prayerful life.

Sr Irene is hailed as the friends of poor. Her followers, friends, students, colleagues and well wishers are proud of her achievements. It is not for completing 50 years as nun , but because for living those years with love of poor.