Sr Carmencita BS

                                       Sr Mary Carmencita of the Holy Family

Born                                       : 03.09.1939

Entered Bethany                   : 30.06.1967

Temporary Profession          : 06.05.1970

Perpetual Profession             : 12.05.1976

Slept in the Lord                   :02.05.2024

‘Come O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’ Mt 25: 34.

Sr Carmencita, the faithful servant of the Lord heeded to the voice of her beloved in the early hours of 2^nd May 2024 as she flew to the bosom of the creator.

Sr Carmencita nee Monthi Mary Cutinha was born on 3^rd September 1939 to the late Piad Cutinho and Paskin DCosta in the parish of our Lady of Remedies Kirem. She was born in a God fearing family of 10 children. She completed her Primary education in Mundkur and High School at Rosa Mystica Kinnikambla. She answered the call of God on 30^th June 1967 and made her Temporary Profession on 6^th May 1970. She was perpetually professed on 12^th May 1976. Thereafter she rendered her services as a teacher in various communities of Mangalore Province i.e. Rosa Mystica Convent, Kinnikambla, Ganazzana Convent, Taccode, Holy Family Convent, Nirkan, Sacred Heart Convent, Neerude, Santa Cruz Convent Kulshekar, Loretto Convent, Moodubelle, Visitation Convent Kadaba, St Antony’s Convent Padukone, Shanthi Rani Convent Siddakatte, Nazareth Convent Bajpe, Providence Convent Balkunje and Maryvale Convent, Kinnigoli.

Sr Carmencita was blessed with a long life of 85 years and 54 years of Consecrated life. Simplicity, gratitude and positive approach towards life was the hall mark of her life. She was possessed with the qualities of cheerfulness, generosity and contentment. She was generous, kind, compassionate and a thoughtful religious. Her respect, love and obedience towards authority is praise worthy. She was ever ready and willing to go to any place to serve the Lord. She had great love for manual work and worked hard in the compound and also in the management of the house. She loved nature and made use of the land by cultivating vegetable and plants. As a craft and needle work teacher she has won the hearts of children and people through her love, care and compassion. She was actively involved in the pastoral activities, loved visiting the sick, suffering and offer prayer and comfort to them. She attracted everyone through her jovial and witty nature. She was always happy, grateful and contented with no complaints of anything. She helped others in spite of her sickness or inabilities. Her endurance in sickness is marvelous. She quietly bore all the pain and inconveniences with a loving gaze at the master.

After her retirement in 2003 she served as assistant Hostel warden where she proved herself to be a real mother to the unfortunate and poor children. Sr Carmencita was in Maryvale Convent, Kinnigoli since 2009. When she was unable for active service she spent her days praying before the Blessed Sacrament and interceding for the needs of the world.

Sr  Carmencita suffered from age related illness like diabetes, hyper tension and heart disease. She was on regular treatment from Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoli. On 1^st of May as she went to bed her  prayer was ‘ Lord, have mercy on me and take me to yourself’. The master who loved her gave heed to her prayer in the early hours of 2^nd may 2024.  As she was waiting to meet the Lord in the Eucharist, the Lord himself came to meet her as she passed away to his heavenly abode due to heart attack at 6.15 am. Quiet as in life so was she in death. As the community was preparing for the Eucharist the Assistant Parish Priest Fr Vivek Deepak Pinto offered prayers and thereafter celebrated the Eucharist for the repose of the soul. The Parish priest paid visit to the community and prayed for the departed soul. Sr Roshel the assistant Provincial Superior and Sr Shubha the Provincial Councillor visited the community and offered prayers and condolences. The entire community accompanied the departed sister through continuous prayers, rosaries and Divine Mercy chaplets as the mortal remains were kept in the convent chapel the whole day. The people of the ward, parishioners and BLA members paid respect to the departed and offered continuous prayers.

The Funeral rites of Sr Carmencita were held on 3^rd May at immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli at 10.15 am. The mortal remains were blessed in Maryvale Convent at 9.45 am by the parish  priest Rev Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo and thereafter taken to the Church  in  procession. The Holy Eucharist was officiated by Rev Fr Daniel Veigas OP the Episcopal Vicar for Religious, concelebrated by the Parish Priest and assistants and Fr Walter Mendonca SVD. Fr Faustine Lobo the parish priest preached a befitting homily enumerating the simple life of Sr Carmencita and the reward of eternal life. The mortal remains were laid to rest in the Convent cemetery awaiting her resurrection.

The home going of Sr Carmencita was witnessed by large number of Sisters, her relatives, parishioners well wishers and BLA members. Sr Rose Celine, our Superior General along with her Councillors Sr Shanthi Priya, Sr Marietter, Sr Sandhya attended the funeral rites and offered prayers. Sr Cicilia Mendonca and her Councillors Sr Roshel, Sr Shubha, Sr Anna Maria and Province Procurator Sr Flavia Wilma accompanied Sr Carmencita during her final journey.