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Religious Name : |
Sister Mary Venantia of the Holy Family |
| Maiden Name : | Pauline Fernandes | |
| Religious No : | 794 | |
| Native Place : | Barkur | |
| Parish : | St. Peter's Church, Barkur | |
| Diocese : | Udupi Diocese | |
| State : | Karnataka | |
| Date of Birth : | 16.10.1925 | |
| Date of First Profession : | 17.05.1951 | |
| Date of Perpetual Profession : | 22.05.1956 | |
| RIP | 13-04-2021 |
OBITUARY
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.’”Ps.34:4
These words of the psalmist adopted by Sr. Venantia nourished and sustained her spiritual life and with this strength she was enabled to make her life purposeful and sublime. All through her life, she desired to experience God tangibly and sought to do God’s will in everything she did. Having completed the given mission, being a faithful and trustworthy servant, she took up the Heavenly journey in peaceful and quiet surrender, to join her Lord and Master for all eternity.
Sr. Venantia was born on 16 october 1926, at Barkur, to Mr. Paul Fernandes and Mrs Maria Sequeira as a fifth child among six children. At the age of 22, she joined the Apostolic Carmel and made her final profession in 1956 to give herself in service to the church and the society.
As an Apostolic Carmel educator she made a difference in the lives of people by making education, value based and integral. She identified the poor students and accompanied them, in order to make their lives meaningful.
Taking care of the little ones in the boarding house was her passion. She offered 70 long years of loving service at different communities namely St. Joseph’s Convent, Kundapura, St Maria Goretti Convent, Kemmannu, Stella Maris Convent, Kotekar, Lourdes Convent, Kallianpur, St Ann’s convent, Mangalore, St. Mary’s Convent, Marjil, and St. Cecily’s Convent, Udupi.
In whichever community she was placed, she held on to the flame of loyalty, loving obedience and found peace and serenity in carrying out God’s will, manifested through the instrumentality of her superiors. Being a generous mess minister, taking care of the sick as a caring infirmarian, giving joy to the sisters by her culinary skills , willingly accepting the given assignment, unburdening the pain and sorrows of the people by her patient listening, reaching out to the needy, taking the needs of people in prayer, bearing the daily crosses in forbearance, were her heroic deeds of love for the Lord.
Spending time in reading, reflecting and meditating on the scripture was the ardency she practised to the perfection. When her eyesight grew dim, whenever the sister in-charge of reading the scripture to her could not do it occasionally, she was restless until someone read the Word of God to her.
God had blessed her with a long life. And she returned this gift in gratitude to God by raising her heart and mind through constant and continuous offering of prayer. Eucharist was her strength. She was determined to participate in the mass daily until a fortnight before. She had special devotion to our Lady and would give joy to her eternal mother by offering continuous chain of rosaries. ‘Jesus be merciful to me, Mary my mother do not forsake me, unite me with your son was her constant prayer of the heart she uttered without fail.
She had great love and concern towards her family. Enquiring after them, praying for them and conversing with them over telephone were her little joys in life she did not give up till the end.
The visits of our Provincial Superior revived her spirit and gladdened her heart. The presence of Sr. Julian, the Provincial Councilor on the previous night was a great source of support. The constant visits of her family till the time of dying day especially by Mr Neri and Mrs Ophelia brought comfort and consolation to her.
During the last 4 days, her health had deteriorated and she took a bad turn. The Parish Priest Rev Fr. Charles Menezes and the Assistant Rev. Fr. Ashwin Aranha and Rev Fr. William Martis, our Chaplain paid a visit to her and administered the last Sacrament. The Superior Sr. Vibha together with her sisters and domestic staff had been very attentive to her needs and took care of her lovingly. The previous day when she suffered from breathing difficulty, sisters took turn to be by her side round the clock. As the sisters prayed with her, she surrendered herself peacefully in the arms of the Saviour at 10.30 am on 13 April, 2021. It was a beautiful home –going, without much struggle.
On the following day, 14 April her mortal remains were brought to the Convent Chapel around 1 pm. Our dear Bishop Rt. Rev Dr. Jerald Isaac Lobo celebrated the Holy Eucharist along with 3 other concelebrants at 3.30 pm. The Parish Priest Rev Fr. Charles Menezes preached meaningful homily. Sisters from the province, staff, relatives, ACAs and parishioners bid her an affectionate good bye. Her mortal remains were laid to rest at our Convent Cemetery at 4.30 pm.
We are immensely grateful to our dear Bishop Rt. Rev. Gerald Isaac Lobo and the clergy for their pastoral presence, Superior General Sr. Nirmalini and her team for their prayers, Provincial Superior and her council for their supportive presence, the Staff of Hitech Medicare Hospital for their availability and ever ready service, domestic staff Selma, Violet and Bharati for their caring love and our condolences to all the family members.
Dear Sr Venantia your long relentless service in the vineyard of the Lord, marked with great love and perfection was an inspiration to all. Thank you dear sister for your prayerful support especially to the sisters of your community. We miss your presence in our midst. We believe that you are with the Risen Saviour interceding for all of us.
A tribute of love and fond remembrance from the sisters of St Cecily’s Convent, Udupi.
Bio- data
Name in religion : Sr. Mary Venantia of the Holy Family
Maiden name : Pauline Fernandes
Inst. No. : 794
Date of Birth: 16-10-1926
Date of entrance to Postulancy: 24-05-1948
Date of first Profession : 17-05-1951
Date of Final Profession : 22-05-1956
Date of Decease :13-04-2021
Date of Burial:14-04-2021
Place of Burial: St. Cecily’s Convent Cemetery, Udupi
