Sr M Sarita BS

                                     Sr M Sarita BS of the Sacred Heart

Born                                          : 12.05.1950

Entered Bethany                     : 08.06.1969

Temporary Profession            : 10.05.1974

Perpetual Profession              : 15.05.1980

Slept in the Lord                     : 30.04.2025

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

These words of St Paul truly came to life today in the life of Sr Sarita. At the final hour of her life, she bore the burden of her suffering without a single complaint and firmly held on to her faith. Ready to meet her end, our dear sister stood before her Lord on the 30th of April, in the evening, to receive the crown of righteousness. She appeared radiant before her Creator and glorified God.

Sr Sarita, born into the Fernandes family of Kinnigoli, lovingly offered herself to the Church as a religious sister. She was born on the 12^th of May, 1950, to the Late Mr Ignatius Fernandes and the Late Mrs Bridget Fernandes. Known in the family as Benedicta Fernandes, she was the fifth among their children. She grew up in a God-fearing family. Her elder sister, the Late Sr Sunil BS who joined religious life before her was an inspiration for her religious calling.

Sr Sarita completed her primary and high school education at Little Flower School in Kinnigoli. On 08 June 1969, she joined the Bethany Congregation. She made her Temporary Profession on 10 May 1974, and on 15 May 1980, she made her Perpetual Profession, fully and wholeheartedly dedicating herself to the Lord.

After undergoing teacher training at the Rosa Mystica Training Institute in Gurpur, Sr Sarita served as a teacher and later as a Headmistress. She rendered her educational and pastoral services in various schools and parishes such as Permannur, Kanajar, Karkal, Bendur, Moodubelle, Balkunje, Ranipura, and Kulsekhar. Even after retiring from the field of education, she continued her mission as a teacher in Bidar, Mulki, and Puttur with great dedication. Through her service in various convents, she truly lived her religious life with commitment.

For the past five years, she was affected by multiple health issues. She suffered from diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and other ailments. Over the last two years, her condition worsened, and she became physically weak and dependent on others. About a year ago, she was shifted to Maryvale Convent for medical care. Fifteen days before her passing, when her health deteriorated further, she was admitted to Concetta Hospital for continued treatment.

On Good Friday, the day of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Sr Sarita received the Anointing of the Sick from Assistant Parish Priest Rev Fr Steven Coutinho. Uniting her physical and emotional suffering with Jesus, she endured everything with love for the Lord and in a spirit of sacrifice. On the next day, she peacefully surrendered her soul to her Creator, in the hope of sharing in the glorious resurrection of Christ.

While she was seriously ill, Sr Lilly Pereira, the Provincial Superior visited her and assured of her prayers. For the past one year, Sr Premalata, the Superior of Maryvale Convent, along with the doctors of Concetta Hospital and the sisters of the convent, lovingly cared for her during her illness and offered her companionship. Her brother, Robert Fernandes, and sister-in-law, Cecilia Fernandes, visited her frequently and expressed their deep love for their sister. Everyone accompanied her with prayer. We offer our heartfelt condolences to both of them and to all her family members, entrusting them to the comfort of Christ. The two beautiful flowers, born and raised in Kinnigoli, blossomed in Bethany and today, have been gathered by the Divine Gardener. The Bethany family remains ever grateful to their family.

The mortal remains of Sr Sarita were laid in the community chapel, where the community sisters, her relatives, and parishioners gathered in continual prayer. A large number of sisters from various communities, including Sr Mariette, Sr Santhosh Maria, and Sr Sandhya, the General Councillors along with sisters from neighbouring communities and the Central Delegation, paid their respects and joined in prayer for Sr Sarita.