Sr Carita BS

                                  Sr M Carita BS of Jesus and Mary

Born                                       : 29.04.1949

Entered Bethany                   : 08.06.1966

Temporary Profession          : 24.03.1971

Perpetual Profession             : 16.05.1977

Slept in the Lord                   : 02.05.2023

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:6-7.

Sr M Carita BS (74) nee Veronica DSouza of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore, passed away peacefully at 3.15pm on 2^nd May 2023, due to Cardiac arrest. She was the Superior of Lourdes Convent Kanajar. She is the daughter of the late Mr Joseph Benjamin DSouza and the late Mrs Marceline Pinto, belonging to St Roque’s Church, Neerude of Mangalore Diocese. She has four brothers and four sisters among whom one is a priest Fr Robert DSouza and two are Bethany Sisters; Sr Irene is in Eastern Province and Sr Gretta is in Silchar Province.

Sr Carita’s loving parents imbued their children with their vibrant Catholic faith and strong family values at St Roque’s Church, Neerude. Once, when she and her father happened to meet Sr Bartholomea at Rosa Mystica campus, she was motivated to join Bethany. Being confirmed of God’s call she entered Bethany on 8^th June 1966. She made her Temporal Profession on 24^th March 1971, the eve of the great feast of Annunciation and Perpetual Profession on 16^th May 1977. She extended the initial invitation to consider the religious life to her siblings Sr Irene and Sr Gretta because she displayed such joy in her own religious vocation. Her elder brother Fr Robert DSouza encouraged and supported their response to God’s call. She was always profoundly grateful for the ‘ample abundance of God’s graces’ that she received in her 52 years as Bethany Sister.

Veronica, the young aspirant of Bethany was assigned to Teachers Training Course at Rosa Mystica where she truly found her place and dearly loved her teaching profession. It was her personal interaction and interest in each student that truly influenced their lives and left lasting memories. As a teacher she was known for her kind and gentle demeanor and her impact on her students was immeasurable. She served as an efficient teacher, caring Superior and a friendly Warden rendering her services at Ranipura, Karkal, Sampaje, Bendur, Badyar, Moodubelle, Puttur, Taccode, Bajpe, Shubadha, Siddakatte, Ozanam – Kalianpur and Kanajar and left a lasting legacy of achievement and friendship. We have heard from her numerous former students of many schools citing her influence, her wisdom and her skill to instill a sense of self-worth. She truly embodied Fr Founder’s words: “Love the children first, and then teach them.”

She never sought the limelight but reflected the Lord’s hiddenness and obscurity through her simple and humble ways. She had given her all to the Lord like the widow’s mite at the temple offering. Her life was a shining example of selflessness, faith and commitment. Her motto of ‘living life in union with Christ’ was evident in her recent celebration of her Golden jubilee. She wrote in her journal, on that day, “I really feel and see the guiding hand of God the Father and Mother, in my life. Looking back on the different things that have happened, I see He was always with me – that, ignorant as I was and still am, He watches over me, guides me, and protects me. How grateful I am for this loving, continuous care of God, Father and Mother. I must show my gratitude by being always more attentive to His inspirations, to the way He is leading and guiding me.”

Mr Fredrick Sequeira one of the Trustee of ‘Ozanam’ in the diocese of Udupi said on her funeral day, “A gentle and meek Sister, whom I have known from the day one she assumed her duties as Superior of Maria Kripa Convent and Ozanam Home for the Aged, Kallianpur, paying keen interest to every inmate and attending to their daily chores. Never have I seen her losing patience or admonishing them with their unruly behavior during her tenure of five years.” Although Superior in role, she was always in the background, doing simple tasks to serve the community and the Lord.

The first words that come to us at the mention of Sr Carita’s name are spirited, determined, as well as persistent, in love with her vocation and loyal to the Congregation. Loyalty was always one of her strong

virtues whether to her family, Bethany or her own Community. During her formative years she deepened her spiritual life and carefully dedicated herself to prayer – a pattern that grew steadily and sustained her through the years. She was prompt to rise early and spend the day in the presence of the Lord drawing divine energy from Him. She had a childlike love for Blessed Mother and filial trust in her powerful intercession. As the last convent she lived is dedicated to our Lady of Lourdes she used to pray the Rosary and made her day more meaningful and fruitful. All those who have known and lived with her will testify that she is a prayerful and a pleasant person.

Sr Carita had shared the joy of meeting her family members on 9^th May 2023 as it was the Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of her priest brother Fr Robert DSouza for which the entire family would come together. She was well prepared and eagerly waiting for the celebration. She was healthy and never complained of any illness. She went to bed as usual on 1^st May, the feast of St Joseph the worker. On 2^nd May, she showed symptoms of uneasiness. Seeing her condition Sisters from the community shifted her to Fr Muller’s Hospital, Mangalore.