Sr M Sunil BS

                                    Sr M Sunil BS of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Born                                       : 11.01.1947

Entered Bethany                   : 05.06.1967

Temporary Profession          : 04.05.1972

Perpetual Profession            : 03.05.1978

Slept in the Lord                   : 02.02.2022

“Like gold in the furnace he tried them and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them” (Wis 3:6).

These words from the Scripture came true in the life of Sr Sunil who flew to her eternal abode at the invitation of the Lord on 2nd February 2022 on World day of Consecrated life. She responded to the call of her Master after a period of illness in the 75th year of her earthly life and 50th year of her religious life. As she was awaiting joyfully to celebrate her Golden jubilee with her batch mates the Lord summoned her to be with Him forever.

Sr Sunil hails from Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoly in the Diocese of Mangalore. She was born to devout parents Mr Ignatius Fernandes and Mrs. Bridgit Dsouza on Jan 11 1947. She was 4th child among 6 siblings. Her younger sister, Sr Saritha is a Bethany Sister serving at Queen of the Mission’s Convent, Sampaje. Sr Sunil completed her Primary and High school education at Little Flower High School, Kinnigoly. As she was completing her studies, she heard the call of the Lord and joined Bethany in 1967. She completed her teacher’s training and was an ideal teacher in Catholic Board of Education.

After her formation, she made her first profession on 4th May 1970 and made her perpetual profession on 3rd May 1978 and dedicated herself totally to the Lord and His mission. She had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Blessed Virgin Mary. Everyone who visited her found her praying the rosary. She spent long hours in the company of the Lord. She was serene by nature, coupled with childlike simplicity, patience, kindness compassion above all a joyful religious. She was faithful and responsible for the given task. She faced courageously all the challenges and lived a disciplinary and exemplary religious life.

Sr Sunil was a docile person who obeyed God and her superiors and carried out the responsibilities assigned to her with diligence. She served as a Superior at Bethany Convent Badyar, Lisiux Convent Puttur, St Xavier’s Convent Ajekar, Pompei Convent Kawdoor. She also worked as a dedicated teacher in Kirem, Bulkunje, Bajpe, Taccode, Padukone, Puttur, Nirkan, Ranipura and Badyar. She was a member of the community at St Joseph’s Convent Shubadha and Santa Cruz Convent Kulshekar. In June 2021 she was transferred to Maryvale convent Kinnigoli where she spent her last days surrendering her life to God.

Her special interests were gardening, cultivation, teaching and praying. She was known for her simplicity of life style, spirit of prayer and hospitality. She was able to spread God’s goodness and beauty to all those who came to her by her gracious smile. She had great love for the poor, particularly for those who were deprived of basic needs. She has sown the seed of vocation in the hearts of young boys and girls who responded to God’s call and serving today as priests and nuns.

For the past few years Sr Sunil was suffering from liver cirrhosis and was under treatment in Fr Muller’s Hospital. From 14th of January her condition was deteriorating and was helpless, so for the further treatment and care she was admitted to Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoly. Meanwhile she was given the Sacrament of anointing of the sick by Fr William DSouza. In her agony and pain accepted her sufferings with great patience & endurance with a smiling face. She was hoping to recover and to celebrate her Golden Jubilee of religious life along with her batch mates. However God’s plan was totally different. On 1″ evening she was found more calm and preparing herself to meet the Lord and in the early hours of February 2nd at 4.30am she ebbed into eternity in the presence of the sisters the Community and gracefully leaped to heaven to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in Heavenly Kingdom along with the saints and the angels.

Her mortal body was placed at Mary vale Convent chapel Kinnigoly. The sisters of the community and the Province accompanied her through prayers and rosaries. Her mortal remains were carried to Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoly at 3.30 pm in procession along with sisters, family members and the people of the parish. The Eucharist was officiated by Rt Rev Msgr Fr Maxim Noronha the Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese and concelebrated by four other priests. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the Parish Cemetery.