News and Pics From Stanly Bantwal
For Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)

Mangalore, Jul 17: Hundreds of devotees from various parishes across the city joined the Carmelite sisters at the Carmel of the Sacred Heart at Kankanady, in celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Carmel, on Wednesday, July 16.

The solemn Eucharistic Mass was offered by Fr Francis Serrao, rector of St Aloysius College (SAC), alongwith a few other priests. The attendees sought the intercession of Blessed Mary Bouardy, the French Carmelite nun who served for a few years in the monastery here in the 18th century.

Her statue as well as the few possessions she had, were displayed at the entrance of the monastery that was erected in her honour and blessed by Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza a few years ago.

This Carmel has the honour of being the first Teresian cloistered Carmel on Indian soil. 

On August 21, 1870, nine Carmelite sisters along with two missionary priests embarked on their journey to India, of whom three sisters passed for their heavenly abode soon.

For a few months, the nuns formed a single community in St Ann’s convent in the city.  They were moved to the existing cloistered Carmel monastery at Kankanady on March 18, 1882.