Vatican raises hopes for tribal nun sainthood

Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, along with three other Sisters- founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St Anne on July 26,1897.

Ranchi:  Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, founder of the Congregation of The Daughters of St Anne, Ranchi, has become the first tribal woman to be declared Servant of God, paving the way to start the lengthy process for a possible sainthood.

After the Vatican in July issued a nihil obstat or 'nothing stands in the way' certificate for a thorough probe into the life of Mother Mary Bernadette, Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi, on Aug 7 issued a decree naming her a Servant of God.

"It is a rare honour for a tribal woman to be declared a Servant of God. Today, she became the first tribal nun in India to start her journey towards a possible sainthood. It is all God's mercy," Cardinal Toppo said.

"Mother Mary Bernadette's bravery came from her unshakable faith in Jesus. The Mother and Sisters of the congregation defied all odds to spread faith and education in the region. They are heroines of the Catholic church," Cardinal Toppo said soon after leading the morning mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Ranchi.

Born on June 16, 1878, Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, along with three other Sisters - Cecilia, Veronica and Mary - founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St Anne on July 26,1897.

All her life as a nun, Mother Mary Bernadette worked extensively for education and travelled across forested hinterland without roads to reach and teach villagers. During the turn of the 20th century and the early decades, when cholera struck large parts of Chhotanagpur, Sister Mary and Sister Veronica died in the epidemic.

Undeterred by tragedies and dangers, Mother Mary Bernadette and her congregation went on with their work in the region and started branching out across India.

On April 16,1961, Mother Mary Bernadette breathed her last at St Anne's Convent, Ranchi, from TB.

Sister Linda Mary Vaughan, superior general, Daughters of St Anne, said they had moved a formal petition last November to Cardinal Toppofor the initiation of the process to declare their founder Mother Mary Bernadette a Saint.

"Beginning from four in 1897, today the Congregation of the Daughters of St Anne has 1,040 sisters spread over 142 convents in India and abroad," Sister Vaughan said.

The Cardinal's decree also asks the faithful and people at large to submit documents, photographs and other material evidence relating to Mother Mary Bernadette that they may possess, to the church, which a tribunal to be formed by him would examine and send its report to the Vatican.

Source: The Telegraph