Sad demise of Sr. Chrysantha A. C

“Wait for the Lord,

Be strong and take heart

And wait for the Lord!”

     - Ps.27: V.14

INTRODUCTION

For the past one year Sister Chrysantha has been longing and waiting for the Lord to take her home. She was unafraid of death and was all the while inviting the Lord to take her to Heaven.

Late Sister Chrysantha

She slipped into eternity on the 29th of July, 2014 at 7:45 p.m. after suffering intensely from an illness patiently and lovingly borne. “I offer all my sufferings for the sick and the dying.” She told Sister Veronica, our Superior. To which, Sr. Veronica asked her to pray for intention like World Peace, The Church, Our Congregation, Our Parish and our little community and she agreed to this. 

Sr. Chrysantha was born on 12th June, 1926 in Trasi, Kundapur, Mangalore, a picturesque town, bounded by rivers and the sea. Her parents were Joackim Leo Mendonca and Josephine Regina Silva. She was christened as “Stella”, a true star indeed, in her home and in the congregation. 

She was the 9th in a family of 14 children, the last 3 of whom are now living. She was brought up tenderly and as she used to say, “They had a very happy family-life”. Since her eldest brother, Titus, had secured a job in Ahmedabad, her second brother John, her younger sister Winnie and she came to Ahmedabad. Both the Sisters were students and Boarders of Mount Carmel High School, Navrangpura. After her studies, she promptly answered the Lord’s call and we are proud to state that she is the first vocation of our school, to the Apostolic Carmel Congregation!

She made her first Profession of Vows in 1951 and thereafter worked in our convents in Pune, Kodarma, Bokaro, Umerkhadi, Nagpur, Digwadi, Gandhinagar, Bandra, Chandigarh, Kharagpur, Goa, Srinagar and in Gandhidham. She came to Mount Carmel, Navrangpura from Gandhidham in 2001, the year of the earthquake. She has worked in different posts, as Assistant teacher, Boarders’ Mistress, and as Principal and Superior. Being a hard working Sister and duty conscious, she was requested to be the pioneer in two of our convents. No doubt, these assignments were difficult. She however, braved it with her prayer, her immense faith in God and the support of her Sisters. She had a great sense of humour and at recreation would enliven the atmosphere with jokes and anecdotes. She would also sing, the old hit songs, some of which have been fondly recorded by one of the Sisters.

She was extremely spiritual and till of late, participated in Mass and other community exercises. She was eager to spread the values of the kingdom through her faith formation classes. The Rosary was always in her hand and she would pray at it constantly. 

On the 28th evening she took very ill and on 29th she passed away peacefully as one of our sisters was praying her side.

We thank our Rev. Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes and our Bishop Thomas Macwan for their visits and spiritual ministrations to Sister Chrysantha and for comforting her with their presence.

We especially thank Father Valerian Dias S.J. her confessor for being there for her in her need and for administering the Sacrament of the sick to her. 

We also thank Fr. Vincent Saldanha S.J. who was deeply concerned about Sr. Chrysantha. We are thankful for the services for the solicitous visits, and the support offered by our sisters of the Apostolic Carmel in Gujarat.

We are grateful to Mr. Michael Paul, Administrator of Life Care hospital who went out of his way to assist us.

Her long waiting has come to an end. The Pilot has crossed the bar with her and has leaded her to safe and calm waters.

May she intercede for all of us as she rests safe in the arms of Jesus!

- Sr. Jennifer Gomes AC

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