Sr M Carmelita BS

                                     Sr  M Carmelita BS of our Lady of Fatima

Born                                       : 22.11.1935

Entered Bethany                   : 04.06.1955

Temporary Profession          : 08.05.1957

Perpetual Profession            : 04-05-1963

Slept in the Lord                   : 01.01.2023

“You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race; you have kept the faith and a merited crown awaits you” 2 Timothy 4:6-7.

True to these words, Sr M Carmelita BS (88) was prepared fully, to meet her Lord the creator on 1 January 2023, Sunday at 3.40 am at Rosa Mystica Convent, Gurpura, Kinnikambla.

Sr Carmelita nee Cecilia Crasta was born on November 22nd, 1935. She hails from Kannada Kudru Gangoli, Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Udupi Diocese and is the daughter of the late Jerome Crasta and the late Remedia Crasta. She has three brothers and five Sisters among whom Sr Hariette of Silchar Province is her younger sister. She grew up in a God fearing family with her parents and siblings. Her early education was at Kannada Kuduru school, Gangolli thereafter she entered Bethany on June 4th 1955. She persued her Teachers Training at Rosa Mystica TTI. She made her Temporary profession on May 8th 1957 and offered herself totally to God on May 4th 1963 by her Perpetual Profession.

God blessed Sr Carmelita with a long life of 88 years and 66 years of Consecrated life. She had great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Blessed Mother. This made her to spend long hours before the Blessed Sacrament in prayer. She was prompt to rise early and spend the day in the presence of the Lord drawing Divine energy from Him. The celebration of the Eucharist was her breath. She would intercede for the needs of the world and the suffering humanity, community, Congregation, Priests, Religious, and the people who visited the Grotto with various supplications. Gratitude and positive approach to everything was the hallmark of her life. She was happy, and no complaints of anything. She would always say, ‘I am in the paradise’. For everything and to everyone she would have a word of apreciation. She possessed the qualities of cheerfulness, concern, sensitivity and generosity towards the sisters, the poor and the needy. She has won the hearts of many children and people through her love, care and concern. She was committed and loyal to the Congregation and had great respect to the authority.

She has rendered her committed services in different capacities as a teacher, superior and a warden at Bethany Convent, Bendur, Kinnigoly, Nirkan, Basrur, Kanajar, Vamanjoor, Rosa Mystica, St Joseph’s Orphanage Kinnikambla, Ozanam-Home Kallianpur, and Shubhada Suralpady. As an efficient, loving and dedicated teacher, she has rendered commendable service in the field of education and enlightened thousands of children through her life example, compassion and commitment. She served as a Superior at St Joseph’s Convent, Basrur and Lourdes Convent Kanajar. She had a shepherding care of all the sisters under her and served them with love and kindness. She was the Warden of St Joseph’s Orphanage, at Rosa Mystica where she proved herself a real mother to the unfortunate children. Children were delighted by her affectionate approach.

After her retirement from school in 1996, she fully devoted her life for humanitarian works for 20 years both at Ozanam Kalianpur and Shubhada Suralpady. She made herself available to serve the poor & the distressed of the society at any time and as a result, she was appointed as the warden of Shubhada Society.

As she was suffering from chronic asthama, was transferred to Rosa Mystica Convent on March 23rd 2019 and was under medication. Ever since her transfer, she was actively involved in Prayer ministry, spending her time before the Blessed Sacrament, interceding for the needs of the entire world. She maintained cordial relationship with everyone in the community.

January 1 2023 was the day fixed by her to visit Founders grave along with her religious sister (Sr Hariette), nephew and family members. She had shared the joy of meeting her home people with all the sisters of the community on the previous day. She was well prepared and eagerly waiting for their arrival. But God’s ways are not our ways and hence she flew unexpectedly to her creator God with much shock to all of us.

On 31 December 2022 she was hale and hearty till she went for her nights rest. But on 1 January 2023 Sunday in the early morn around 3.30am she was groaning and on hearing this, Sr Leera Maria the Superior rushed to her room and found her in a helpless state without being able to speak.