My dear Sisters,
“To know Mary, to make her known and loved, seems to me the idea and perfection of a religious.” - St Bernard We celebrate 102nd anniversary of our Foundation day on the feast of Mount Carmel. The Congregation was founded chiefly for the Catholic education of the rural poor, specially girls, teaching of Catechism in parish communities and schools, instruction of catechumens and neophytes, care of the children, the sick and the elderly. The Sisters are involved in pastoral, educational, social and medical apostolates according to the needs of the place all over India, Europe and Africa. Like most of the Congregations, Bethany had a very simple beginning; however, it had noble ideals rooted in Indian philosophy. Self-reliance, dignity of labour, simplicity of life, education in the vernacular focusing Primary and adult education, development of villages for the progress of the country and emancipation of women were some of the ideals that our Founder and the Founding members upheld. Let us carry on the Spirit and Charism of the Congregation with commitment and zest. We view the Blessed Virgin Mary as the perfect model of virtue because she was the person who was closest in life to Jesus Christ. Mary the first person points Christians to Christ. We also embrace the Virgin Mary as a Spiritual Mother. Let this day be especially a day of thanksgiving to the Mother and the Son! At the same time let us implore pardon of them for all the offences we have committed individually and as a body. Jesus has received lots of ingratitude from Bethany and therefore let us ask Him to forgive us. Let us be grateful by becoming good religious. (cf: From the lips of Founder pg 250) ‘In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus’. The feast of Bethany saints recognizes that Jesus was welcomed by a family. We all have individual friends, but it is a special blessing when a whole family befriends us. We come to share in the life journey of the family members, sharing in their joys and sorrows, their significant celebrations and times of struggle. Jesus had a close relationship with this family of two sisters and a brother. They welcomed him into their home. Let’s always keep our homes ready to welcome Jesus and aspire to build genuine Christian families in our parishes! Can we make our families and communities icons of love, unity, forgiveness and charity?
Wish you a very happy Foundation Day, Happy Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel and Bethany Saints!