Sr M Marie Ange BS

                                   Sr Marie Ange of the Wound on the Shoulder

Born                                       : 30.09.1946

Entered Bethany                   : 16.07.196

Temporary Profession          : 06.05.1965

Perpetual Profession             : 14.06.1971

Slept in the Lord                   : 14.11.2023

For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8).

These words of St Paul seem true in the life of Sr Marie Ange who took a leap into eternity after spending a life of 77 years in active service and silent suffering. Her preparedness like a wise virgin and her waiting like a servant for the Master ended when she flew away from this life to continue to live with the Eucharistic Lord whom she loved and adored.

Sr Marie Ange BS Nee Irene Vas was born to the late Mr Michael Faustine Vas and the late Mrs Angeline Sequeira on 30 September 1946 and was baptized on 25th October in the Most Holy Redeemer Church, Belthangady. She has just one sibling, younger brother Mr Cyprian Vas, who lives with his family in Valencia parish, Mangalore.

Sr Marie Ange’s childhood was spent in St Anthony’s Parish, Mudigere. She completed her primary education in St Martha’s School, Mudigere under the Bethany Sisters and her secondary school education in the government school. Having perceived a call to serve Jesus, young Irene joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany on the feast of Mount Carmel in 1963. She entered the Novitiate on 5th May 1964, made her First Profession on 6ª May 1965 and her Perpetual Profession in the year 1971.

After her First Profession Sr Marie Ange pursued her B.A. from St Agnes College, Mangalore and her B. Ed from St. Ann’s. Having qualified herself as a teacher, Sr Marie Ange rendered her service at Gulabi High School, Jayamahal Bangalore, Nirmala High School Sagar, Presentation High School Dharwad, Little Flower Girls High School Kinnigoli, Jyothi High School Ajekar, Madeleine High School Mulki, and Rosa Mystica High School, Kinnikambla from where she got retired from teaching ministry. After her retirement, she was transferred to Bethany Mother House in the year 2005 where she served in ‘Sachetana Bethany Pastoral Centre. Simultaneously she participated in the diocesan Prison Ministry.

Sr Marie Ange was a soft-spoken person. As a teacher and later as headmistress she kept good rapport with the students, parents and the public. She promoted vocations to priestly life among the boys and to religious life among the girls. Sr Marie Ange’s mild nature, simplicity, compassion for the poor and service with dedication has appealed to many people young and old alike. Her faith and devotion to the Eucharist and trust in Mother Mary were tremendous. Her special interests were reading and communicating moral and biblical values to the youth and others.She was endowed with a special gift from God to spread the Word of God and to motivate the readers to lead God oriented life enshrined with virtues.

St Marie Ange was diagnosed with brain tumour in the year 2009-2010 and was treated upon. She got recovered from it and spent the rest of her life usefully by writing articles in Konkani, Kannada and English for different papers and periodicals like Raknno, Sevak, Amchi Mai, Dirven, Bendurcho Thalo, Dootha, Pingara, Anupama, The Secular Citizen, etc. She also wrote/compiled a few books like Bili Parivala, Huvu – Mullu Kavana Sankalana, Baa Belake, Jeevithacha Poinar I Part, Eucharist Amchya Jeevithachi Chavi and Parama Prasada Namma Jeevanada Keelikai.

Of late cancer had devoured her and she was confined to her room and bed. Her spirit of endurance, resignation to God’s will, patience, and constant prayer in suffering were edifying. She was anointed in October by one of her students in Rosa Mystica Fr Anil Kiran Fernandes while he was preaching the retreat in the Mother House. Her end came all of a sudden. On 14 November she received communion as usual in the morning and had her breakfast around 7.30 a.m. Thereafter Miss Rajeshwari, her helper noticed some symptoms of hard breathing in Sr Marie Ange and informed immediately Sr Gracilda, the nurse and Sr Shaila, the Delegation Superior. Sr. Shaila, Sr Gracilda and Sr Jessy Leena rushed to her room to assist her and in their presence Sr Marie Ange yielded her spirit into the hands of Jesus her beloved Spouse. Hearing the news Sr Rose Celine, the Superior General and her team rushed in to pay their respects. They were a source of strength to the sisters in the absence of Sr Dona the superior, who with some sisters of the community was away to Hyderabad and were on their way back when Sr Marie Ange flew into eternity. The mortal remains of Sr Marie Ange were kept in state in the Mother House chapel and the sisters spent time continuously praying for her.

The funeral took place the next day on 15 November at 10.00 a.m. Mr Cyprian Vas, the family members and relatives of Sr Marie Ange, Bethany Sisters from Mangalore, Bangalore and Western provinces, religious from other Congregations, BLA, a few litterateurs, teachers from our institutes and other parishioners participated in the funeral service. Very Rev. Msgr Maxim Noronaha, the Vicar General officiated at the Mass with 15 concelebrants many of who were either St Marie Ange’s students or were in touch with her. Rev. Fr Rudolf, OCD her student at Rosa Mystica preached the homily elaborating her witness of life.