A TRIBUTE TO SR. JAYA FLSG

The Woman Who Gave up Everything for Christ: A Tribute to Sr. Jaya FSLG

On Sunday the 15^th April, when I was at the Sardhana shrine- fulfilling my long cherished dream and the vow of offering the Holy Eucharist, I was informed that one of the daughters of Our Lady of Graces had bid farewell to this earthly life. I wasn’t moved much, until I heard that she was the pioneering missionary in my diocese of Bongaigaon, Assam. I knew who it was: Sr. Jaya, the ever eager and committed religious to be the servant of Christ at Magurmari parish! I had known her to be a dynamic nun with a lots of initiatives to help the poor children with moral and intellectual education. Hence, I cut short my Sardhana trip and proceeded to Meerut for the funeral service held at 3.00 PM.

I was reminded of an incident mentioned in the Gospels- “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’.” (Lk 21:1-4//Mk 12:41-44). That’s it! There may be religious with great accomplishments to their credits, yet for me Sr. Jaya (54) was a missionary par-excellence. In no time she could gauge the pulse of the people, feel the need of the place and put all her resources into the ministry until ‘the end’!

It was an abrupt end. Being the Thursday of the Easter Octave, no doubt she was on a ‘spiritual high’- celebrating life. During the funeral service, Bishop of Francis Calistus of Meerut reminded her mourning siblings, Religious Sisters of FSLG, the priests of the diocese and others present, “We the celebrants are wearing white vestments, singing Gloria on this last day of the Easter Octave, believing firmly that our sister Jaya is received into Everlasting Life”.

Sr. Jaya FSLG (Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Graces) was always busy- ‘doing her Father’s business’. On Thursday after her village ministry she returned to the convent late in the evening, had her dinner and went early to bed. At around 11.00 PM she called Sr. Jancy and complained of some discomfort and breathing problem. Sr. Sophie, FSLG in Mushalpur was also informed and Fr. Sushil the parish priest was woken up at midnight to attend to the emergency situation. Fr. Sushil immediately rushed her to the hospital at Kokrajhar, about 6 Km away. Sr. Jaya was breathing heavy and fast and was praying aloud- “Jesus have mercy on me”. At about 1.00 AM when they arrived at the hospital, there was no trace of life in Sr. Jaya, and the doctor declared- ‘she is brought dead’! Shock and disbelief descended upon all of them. I cannot believe it either. Yet, Sr. Jaya knew where she was going... that is why she was calling on the name of Jesus.

A colossal loss to her dear ones, the Congregation and of course her dear community at Magurmari. A huge vacuum that exists now. “Wherever Sr. Jaya went there was life”, declared Sr. Rajini in her obituary message. I can vouch for it, as I have seen it for myself. Now, Sr. Jaya from above will surely intercede for us poor missionaries to be more committed and eager to do God’s Will. May her soul Rest in Peace.

At the Shrine of Our Lady of Graces, SARDHANA, Meerut

A Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana (Meerut)

In Front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Graces

The front view of the Shrine

When I was young I used to be taken by my mom and dad to St. Lawrence Church, Attur in the Diocese of Mangalore, Karnataka for the yearly feast and pilgrimage. More than the church ceremony- the purchasing of religious articles and relics, sweets and fruits (mostly the water melon) and the fun of a fair (mela)- were the main attractions! Later as a minor seminarian, I had the good fortune of visiting St. Jude’s Shrine in Jhansi. Though he is a saint for desperate cases, I only had placed the intention to make me a good and committed priest one day. Then, as a young priest, when I was kidnapped by the militants in Assam, out of desperation, my elder sister Lilly had vowed that she would take me to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni (Tamil Nadu) if Mother Mary intervened for my safe return. After my release, my sister did take me to the shrine of Our Lady and fulfilled the vows. The tradition of making vows, visiting the shrines and doing the offerings were thus inherited. And now, as my mom is down with paralysis for over three years- unable to move, speak and even eat solid food; it was my turn to have recourse to Our Lady of Graces at Sardhana Shrine, Meerut- to intercede for the earthly mother.

Though there are different versions, yet this shrine is one of the oldest and the most magnificent one indeed. The Building which had commenced in 1809 and was completed and dedicated in 1822 has the following inscriptions in Latin at the entrance:

The main altar in the Church

D.O.M SUIS CURIS ET IMPENSIS AFUNDAMENTIS EXCITAVIT ET SUB NOMINE, ET PROTECVTIONE DEIPARAE VIRG: MARIAE JUXTA ROM: CATHOLICU: RITUM DICAVIT EXLMA DMA JOANNA SOMBROU PRINCEPS SADHANAE AN: DMI MDCCCXXII. ( The English version would be: ``To God most good and great, the most illustrious Lady Joanna, ruler of Sardhana, raised (this church) from its foundations at her own expense, and dedicated it according to the Roman Catholic rite, under the title and patronage of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of god, in the year of the Lord 1822”)

And the queen had written to Pope Gregory XVI, on 21-1-1834 stating, ``I am proud to say it (the Church) is acknowledged to be the finest, without exception, in India''.
 (Source: http://sardhanachurch.org/TheChurch-Basilicaof.aspx)

The statue of Our Lady of Graces

Along with my cousin Mark Pereira, his wife Teresa, their friends Leena Lobo,  Lata Prabhu and her daughter Priya, we started off our journey at 7.00 AM from Delhi on Sunday, the 15^th April, 2012. The 80 odd Kilometres journey was pleasant with jokes, songs, chats and a lot of fun. Our host at Meerut was Fr. Nitisha IMS who had kept the breakfast ready and was there to welcome us into IMS Gurukul, their minor seminary. The well-maintained farm with dairy, rabbits, vegetable garden, etc. were worth seeing. After several photo sessions with rabbits and the pet dogs, we proceeded to the Shrine- to fulfil the purpose of our trip. The Holy Eucharist for pilgrims was at 11.30 AM, celebrated by Fr. Mathew SDB and I joined him as concelebrant and also did the preaching in Hindi and English language.

It was one of those memorable Holy Masses that I ever have celebrated: with deep faith, fervent prayers, and many intentions and fully involved. The fire of faith seen in the eyes of the pilgrims was indeed a great motivating factor for me too. I offered my mom into the hands of my heavenly Mother, trusting in her strong intercession and the providence of God the Father.

Happy Easter

Hi Friends,

Let us be the bearers of the good news that- 'Jesus is Risen...Alleluia is our Song'. Filled with new life and vigour let us pledge to be the 'Easter People'.

Wishing you the Peace & Joy of Easter.

Fr.Thomas d'silva