Ranchi: Daughters of St. Anne Commemorate Founder’s 60th Death Anniversary

Features

(16 April 1961 – 16 April 2021)

 By Sr. Lalita Roshni Lakra, DSA –

Ranchi: 16th April, 2021, the 60th Death Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, DSA, Founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi an indigenous religious Congregation of North India was commemorated by the Sisters of this Congregation in a simple manner due to Covid -19 Pandemic restrictions. The Holy Eucharist was presided over by His Grace Felix Toppo, SJ, Archbishop of Ranchi at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ranchi. Concelebrants included His Lordship Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi, Rev. Fr. Anand David Xalxo, Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral  and 10 more Priests of the Diocese. A brief biographical sketch  of Mother Kispotta’s life was read by Sr. Sushanti Guria of St. Anne’s Mother House, Ranchi.

In his homily His Grace Felix Toppo, SJ, the Main celebrant noted how “in our Holy Mother Church many holy men and women, inspired by the Holy Spirit founded the religious congregations.” He quoted the Second Vatican Council Decree Perfectae Caritatis:

From the church’s earliest times there were women and men who set out to follow Christ more freely and to imitate him more closely by practicing evangelical counsels. In different ways they led lives dedicated to God. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families, which the church, by virtue of its authority, gladly accepted and approved. Thus in keeping with the divine purpose, a wonderful variety of religious communities came into existence. This has helped considerably to equip the church for every good work and for ministry aimed at building up the body of Christ (PC, 1).

The Decree focuses on two aspects:

  1. Many women and men of their own free will decided to follow Christ more intimately and freely by practicing evangelical counsels.
  2. Many women and men inspired by the Holy Spirit founded religious congregations, with definite purpose. The members of these congregations ardently practice evangelical counsels in order to achieve sanctity. Further, by their good works and ministries they build up the body of Christ, the church.

Bishop Toppo further underscored how founding a religious congregation is primarily a work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, in various ways, inspires his chosen instruments to achieve the divine purpose at particular moments in history according to the needs of the church. For instance: Saint Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Kolkata, etc., to mention a few. All these saints experienced ups and downs, joys and sorrows, consolations and desolations and even “dark nights” of their souls. They were so gripped by the power of the Spirit that they could follow inner promptings and eventually founded religious congregations.

Going through the memoir of Mother Mary Bernadette, Bishop Toppo was amazed to see/ read how God accompanied and led her, like a loving, benevolent, compassionate, strong, and supportive mother. He added that the memoir itself is a simple and frank description of her sweet and bitter human experiences which in fact expose step by step the movements of the Spirit in her life. She and her companions were inspired by the committed religious and charitable life of the Loreto nuns. He quoted from the Memoir page 3:

“how these Sisters had left their dear parents, brothers and sisters as well as their friends and relations, their own country out of love of Jesus and had come to the godforsaken junglee area among the poor and lowly people and how they laboured day and night with great affection to help the souls to reach heaven. They said to themselves that if these Sisters sacrificed and did so much for them, then why should they not be ready to follow their beautiful example and work for the good of their own country and people?”

This was the foundational inspiration of Mary Bernadette and three of her companions. It grew stronger and stronger day by day and she recognized and discerned the divine call to live according to the evangelical counsels. Nothing could deter her from this call. The tribal society along with her family could not understand that their daughters wanted to remain virgins for the whole life. It was contrary to their world view. Naturally, therefore, her father opposed Mary Bernadette’s idea vehemently. Many eligible bachelors were proposed as her match. She refused. At one moment, her father, in his uncontrolled rage, brandished a sword to kill her. She remained firm in her decision.

Mother Mary Bernadette has described many more struggles and persecutions that she had to go through. The Spirit led the young Mary Bernadette, who had many, big and small, sweet and bitter experiences. In all these experiences her love for and faith in God kept on increasing. Simultaneously, the desire of serving people and saving their souls also grew stronger and stronger. In fact she boldly affirmed that “If God is with me who could be against me?” She is overwhelmed by grace of God and thanks God whole-heartedly.

His Grace said that the true homage will depend on the faithful acknowledgement and maintenance of the foundational spirit and aims of the Foundress. Adaptations and renewals are a must in this changing situations of the world, but the teachings of Jesus and the particular spiritual inspiration of the foundress have to be scrupulously preserved and promoted. Otherwise the spirit that animates the Congregation will be compromised. At the end Bishop Toppo asked all to thank and praise the Lord for choosing a simple and humble tribal girl for carrying out his mission and for establishing a religious congregation through her instrumentality. He also requested the faithful to pray that the process of beatification may proceed smoothly.

After the Thanksgiving Eucharist Dr. Sister Mariam Anupa Kujur, DSA  gave some information regarding the process/procedure of the Beatification Process. She briefed that:

  • The beatification process was begun on 24 July 2015 when the JHAAN (Jharkhand –Andamans) Regional Bishops Council Approved the initiation of the process of Beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta, DSA. And then Ranchi Archdiocese, the local Church requested for “No Objection” from “The Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Rome.”
  • The then His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo gave information about the approval of JHAAN (Jharkhand & Andamans) Regional Bishops’ Council on 26 July 2015 to the Sisters of the DSA Congregation during the Holy Eucharistic Celebration at St. Anne’s Mother House, Ranchi.
  • On 7 November 2015, the Postulator Rev. Sr. Lily Grace Topno along with Auctor Rev. Sr. Linda Mary Vaughan, DSA the then Superior General of the Congregation submitted the Supples Libellus in the office of Archbishop’s House, Ranchi.  Thus they requested the Local  Church Authorities that they begin the process of beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta, DSA, Founder of the Congregation.
  • On 16 June 2016, Nihil Obstat was given by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Amato, SDB, Prefect Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Rome.
  • On 7 August 2016 Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta was declared “Servant of God” by His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo, the then Archbishop of Ranchi during Holy Eucharist at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ranchi.
  • His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo appointed the Episcopal Delegate, His Lordship Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi for the Beatification Process.
  • Tribunal & Historical Commissions were formed by the Local Church Authorities.
  • After the retirement of His Grace Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo as Archbishop of Ranchi, His Grace Felix Toppo, SJ as his Successor became part of the process.

Thus under the guidance of  the Holy Spirit many authorities are contributing in the process of beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, Servant of God.

Vote of thanks was proposed by Very Rev. Sister Lily Grace Topno, DSA, Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi.

On this auspicious occasion a Souvenir entitled – “Chhotangpur Ki Chingari” was released by His Grace Felix Toppo, SJ,  Archbishop of Ranchi, His Lordship Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX,  Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi, Rev. Sr. Lily Grace Topno, DSA, Superior General and Rev. Fr. Anand David Xalxo, Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ranchi. Thereafter the Superior General presented a memento to Archbishop Felix and Bishop Theodore.

Soon after the Holy Mass homage was paid to the Servant of God Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta at St. Anne’s Mother House Ranchi, where her mortal remains have been preserved.

Due to rising cases of Covid -19, Sisters could not physically be present and participate in the celebrations in Ranchi in a grand way but they offered Mass with the local faithful in their respective communities and commemorated the 60th Death Anniversary of Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, Servant of God in a meaningful way.