Eulogy of Sr Mary D’ Souza As we gather today to celebrate the life of our beloved Sr. Mary D’ Souza we are reminded of the words of St. Paul to…

Eulogy of Sr Mary D’ Souza

As we gather today to celebrate the life of our beloved Sr. Mary D’ Souza we are reminded of the words of St. Paul to timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race … which, the Lord the righteous judge will reward me on that day”. Sr Mary truly lived these words with love, joy and tireless devotion. She ran her race not for her own glory, but for the Lord and for His people.

Sr Mary was born on 21 st December 1947 in Virajpet, Coorg to Mr Jacob D’ Souza and Mrs Pauline Lobo – a loving and faith filled family, who nurtured in her the seeds of joy, simplicity and love for the Lord. From her early days she carried a gentle strength and natural warmth that would later blossom into a life time of service. After her schooling in Mercara, she joined the Sisters of St Joseph of Tarbes and made her first profession on January 9 th 1970.

Sr Mary was cheerful, affectionate and loving person. Her presence was like the sunshine warming hearts, lifting spirits and bringing comfort to those around her. She had a childlike trust in God, a ready smile and a heart that was open to serve anyone. As a teacher she rendered her services in Mercara, Virajpet, Chickballapura and Goa. In 1982 she went as a missionary to Somalia and then to Kenya worked for the poor, the marginalized – teaching, listening, encouraging and comforting broken hearts. She inspiredher students and teachers with her simplicity and creativity. As we recall Sr Mary’s many years of devoted missionary service in Kenya, we are moved by the words shared by the sisters of Kenya who knew who knew her and loved her. As the Provincial Accountant Sr Mary worked tirelessly to raise funds for the Province of Kenya.

She returned to India in the year 2022 and was in Chickballapur for a year. She joined the community of Shanthi Nilaya in 2023; her presence among us was filled with love, care, joy and laughter. Sr Mary‘s love and affection was gentle, attentive and genuine, she cared deeply about people; she was aware of their pain and comforted them through her loving presence.

On June 8 th the great day of Pentecost, when the Church rejoices at the coming of the Holy Spirit, God called her to her eternal home. Just as the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, so too did the heavenly dove descended upon Sr Mary, embracing her in divine love and gently carried her to the bosom of the Father. She never wanted to suffer or to be hospitalized this was indeed a precious merciful and tender gift to her by her heavenly Father. The Lord granted her heart’s desire calling her quietly, lovingly without struggle just as she had lived peacefully with full surrender.

Today even as we mourn her passing away we rejoice in her homecoming. We thank God for the beautiful witness she leaves behind a life of joyful simplicity, missionary zeal and gentle unwavering love.