Sr M Leo BS

                                    Sr M Leo BS of the Blessed Sacrament

Born                                       : 14.09.1939

Entered Bethany                   : 07.07.1962

Temporary Profession          : 06.05.1965

Perpetual Profession            : 14.05.1971

Slept in the Lord                   :14.01.2022

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with the Lord for that is far better (Phil:1:21-23)

These words of St Paul have come true in the life of Sr Leo as she was awaiting to meet the Lord like a wise virgin with the lamp of love. The bridegroom arrived on 14 (th) January at 10.45pm and she flew to her eternal home to be with Him forever. We believe that those who walk uprightly enter into peace and they find rest as they lie in death.

Sr Leo nee Annakutty is a rare vocation from Kerala. She was born on 14  (th) September 1939 as a 2 (nd) child among 5 children to the Late Mr Mathew and the Late Mary belonging to St Mary’s Church, Kaipally of Palai Diocese in Kottayam district of Kerala. Among four of her siblings one brother and her sister were prsent to attend the final rites.

After her Primary and High School education at St Antony’s School at Kodaplamatham, Sr Leo answered God’s call and joined Bethany on 7(th) July 1962. She made her Temporary Profession on 6(th) May 1965 and Perpetual Profession on 14  (th) May 1971. Thereafter she rendered her dedicated service at Christ King Convent Karkal, St Xavier’s Convent Ajekar, Madeleine Convent Mulki, Nazareth Convent Bajpe, Providence Convent Balkunje, Pompei Convent Kawdoor and Lourdes Convent Kanajar. For a short period of time she served at Loyola Convent Gadag of Western Province. In the year 2017 she was transferred to Maryvale Convent Kinnigoli where she spent peacefully her last years and days surrendering her life to God.

Sr Leo’s life is marked with simplicity and purity. She modeled her life after the example of St Therese of Child Jesus by finding joy in doing little things and in managing the household works of the community. She served in the school as a non-teaching staff giving her selfless service wherever and whenever it was required. She was hospitable to everyone who came to the community and through her simple humorous ways brought joy and gladness in the lives of others. As she was full of wit and humour, wherever she was, there was the sunshine of laughter and joy. She made efforts to learn the local language and serve the people with love especially in the school and in the parish.

Sr Leo, a spirit-filled person drew her strength from the Eucharistic Lord. She would sit gazing at the Blessed Sacrament offering her simple prayer from her heart in the form of hymns and thanksgiving. During her last years of life, when she could remember no prayers she found strength in voicing aloud the name of Jesus and Mary. ‘My Jesus, My Mary’ was her constant prayer in her own native language.

The words of Jesus ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God were so vividly seen actualized in Sr Leo. She was an optimistic person of no complaints, always had a good word and kind gesture to each and every one who passed through her life.

Sr Leo was a known case of bronchial Asthma and suffered from hypertension, diabetes and especially from dementia for the past 6 years. During this time due to her physical and mental helplessness and her inability to express and communicate to the members of the community, she offered herself as a living holocaust to God with total surrender of her will, intellect and capacities. One could find in her a person of deep gratitude expressing gestures of joy and love at the little services rendered to her. As the normal health of Sr Leo was deteriorating with the less intake of food she was admitted to Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoli for a thorough check up but the doctors could find no real problem in her health. She was discharged from the hospital and was brought to the community and she gradually stopped complete intake of food. On 14th January she was administered the Sacrament of anointing the sick and later shifted to the hospital for better care. On the same day towards evening she showed signs of more discomfort. She was offered solace and comfort by Sr Premlatha the Superior and the sisters of the community along with her brother and sister. The community prayed God’s mercy upon her continuously by praying mercy Rosary and preparing her to surrender her life to God. At 10.45pm on the same day in the presence of her loved ones she peacefully breathed her last and commended her soul into the hands of her heavenly Father. With the demise of Sr Leo we have lost a simple innocent sister. Her passing away helps us to believe that our common wealth is in heaven and from it we await a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body.