A loving tribute to our dear Sr. Therese of the Child Jesus
A life well lived is a treasure to be treasured,
A life well lived is a memory to be cherished,
A life well lived is a legacy to be adored.
Dear Sr. Mary Therese of the child Jesus your well lived life was a precious gift of hope, a source of strength, a heaven of grace to Our FSM family and people wide and far. Sr. Therese was born on 5th January 1928 in Mangalore. She was the second child and her elder sister was lovingly called Bridget. Her adorable parents were Mr. John Pinto and Mrs. Angelene Pinto with the family name Pinto.
She made her first profession in 1950 and final profession in 1956. She was privileged and chosen by God as first batch from Indian soil to commit herself to the Lord. Soon after her first profession she was chosen to render her loving service in Mathagondapalli to take care of the orphan children. She was a beacon of hope to them and taught them moral values, stitching and basic needs.
She walked miles after miles to teach catechism in Elathagiri and Kanthikuppam around the villages and implanted basic Christian faith with zeal and enthusiasm. She had unrelenting passion to decorate the altar of the Lord and to be a dedicated sacristian. Her life was centered on Christ and she channeled her spirit and energy in works of mercy and education as a PVI teacher.
Her determination, commitment, dedication, firm conviction, hard work etc. speaks volumes of her committed life being a great missionary in France. She took care of the elderly sisters and people with love and tenderness nearly 30 years. She loved to bless the children and people with the sign of cross. We have cherished her blessings by her holy hands.
She was brave enough to face the challenges courageously with trust in God. She was an enduring sister who never complained about her pain or suffering. She was a prayerful person, loved to receive Holy Communion and was interested to attend community activities with great joy. Her enriching statement was “I am fine”. She was a keen observer and obedient to the authority. She fostered a sense of community, creating a space for every one of us to feel welcomed, included and valued. Above all she was a simple and loving sister who loved to be with the company of sisters. Her fruitful service were in Madhagondapalli, Krishnagiri, Elathagiri, France, Mathigiri, Vittal, Salem and ended in Madhagondapalli. It is a great privilege that her vision and mission began in Madhagondpalli and ended in Madhagondaplli ; indeed it’s the plan of God.
She was confined nearly 15 days to the bed completely and given last sacrament. Death has no invitation. On the unexpected hour the beautiful plant was uprooted fully from Our FSM family and replanted in heaven with the company of angels and saints on 04-08-2024 at 3.30am.
We bow our heads in gratitude to God for her 96 years of earthly life and the wonders He has done through our Sr. Therese to Our FSM family and people.
Our sincere thanks to Rev. Sr. Reetha Paul, Superior General and Rev. Sr. Miriam the provincial and Councilors for their support.
Dear Sr. Therese of Child Jesus, you have touched countless lives leaving behind a trail of smile and memories that will be cherished forever. You have left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. May your love, light and laughter continue to guide us, inspire us and uplift us now and always.
We miss your benevolent presence
We miss your gracious smile
We miss your spontaneous humor
We miss your impressive smartness
We miss your delightful intelligent
We miss your grammatical Tamil words
We miss your good morning wishes
But we treasure all your memories in our hearts. Dear sister pray for us…..
Your Loving Sisters,
Sr. Mary & Community,
Our Lady’s Convent,