Sr. Prisila:  Congratulations!  Dear Sr. Anna.

 Sr. Anna:   Thank you sister.

Sr. Prisila:  On this auspicious day we bring you many wishes from all the sisters of our           Province.Today you look like an angel coming down from heaven to give us good  news with a smiling face.  I can see you always communicating good things that you know or heard to many   you meet.  Today as you celebrate your 50 years of service in the vineyard of the  Lord, can you tell me some golden words? 

Sr. Anna:  “I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, O Lord, because you protect me from the power of death. I have served you faithfully and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.” Psalm 16:9. I am feeling very happy and contended. I never thought that I will be celebrating my Golden Jubilee.  But it is God, who makes everything wonderful in our life.

Sr. Prisila: Can you share some wonderful things happened in your life?

Sr. Anna: I never thought that I will become a FMA sister. But God’s plans are so wonderful. When I heard that sisters had come for recruiting the girls in Kerala, I got permission from my parents and went with them to my parish Priest to get the letter. When the priest asked me the name of the Congregation I want to join, I didn’t know the name. Parish priest was surprised. He asked me without knowing the name of the Congregation where do you want to go?  Finally he gave the permission. I was very happy and excited.

Sr. Prisila: Do you remember anything that your parents said before leaving home?

Sr. Anna: I don’t remember anything special but one thing I remember my mother asking my father “what type of dress do they wear”? My father said that their dress looked like frock attached with the fan. Ha ha

Sr. Prisila: What made you or inspired you to leave your loving family and join the Congregation?

Sr. Anna: I understood that my life is to live for Jesus and for the mission, making known His name. And now I feel very happy to serve the people wherever I am.

Sr. Prisila: I see you always cheerful, active and innovative. What is the secret of this joy? 

Sr. Anna: This is the secret of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Be cheerful always. Young in spirit.  And so I like to be young.

Sr. Prisila: Sr. Anna, hearing your word, I don’t want to grow old.

Sr. Anna: (Laughing) I did not mean growing old physically but young in spirit. We must be always active and creative, young in spirit with the young people because now the world is changing every moment with the science and technology. 

Sr.Prisila: What is your suggestion for the young people of today?

Sr. Anna: Quoting the maxim of Don Bosco; “Dance, play and jump but do not commit sin.”

 

Sr. Prisila: What is your advice for the young sisters?

 

Sr. Anna: To equip themselves well to face the modern youth of today with the Spirit of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello.

 

Sr. Prisila: What is your wish for the Province as a whole?

 

Sr. Anna: To be faithful to the charism of the Congregation; not to deviate from the Preventive System because our holiness depends by the way we live. Have great and strong devotion to Mary help of Christians and inculcate real love for her.

 

Sr. Prisila: Who is your favorite saint?  

 

Sr. Anna: St. Teresa of child Jesus. Also I have great devotion to Blessed Eusebia.  My family too is devoted to Bl. Eusebia Palomino FMA.

 

Sr. Prisila: Sr. Anna, can you tell me why are you devoted to Bl. Eusebia?

 

Sr. Anna:  Once my brother was suffering from slipped disc. He was admitted in the hospital and his condition was very critical. When I heard I could not go and see him, I prayed to Bl. Eusebia with great faith. I sent the relic of Bl. Eusebia to him. He put it in his chain and he was cured of his illness. My brother said, “Bl. Eusebia is a wonderful woman”.

 

Sr. Prisila: Thank you dear Sr. Anna, I am very much enthused by your golden words. With confidence I can say that you are really living the true charism of Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello. And I hope all the young people of today may be inspired by this way of living your religious life. May God bless you and grant you long life.