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NOTE: we invite our
visitors to forward us profiles of persons, institutions, and
the like which will be suitably featured in our columns like 'Konkan
Talents' 'Achievers' '..associations',..etc. The reports
preferably with the photographs are most welcome. We at
Daijidubai.com sincerely endeavor to highlight good
deeds of people, wherever they are at the best interest of our
community at large. Email:
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Sr. Clotilda Margaret
"We
need young people to work in the vineyard of Jesus Christ. The harvest
indeed is great but the labourers are few. In spite of difficulties the
missionary work has to be continued. We have to train the people to love one
another as Jesus loves us and to live as brothers and sisters on this earth.
So that the God's kingdom of love, peace & joy may be established here on
earth. This is my wish and prayers, that one day all may come to know Christ
as their saviour" - says Sr. Clotilda Margaret.
Sr. Clotilda Margaret, is one of the great Konkan spiritual personality,
working in the wide spread harvest of God. As a true servant of God her
simplicity, hardworking capacity, leadership qualities, courage and ability
to take up any task in the field of missionary assigned by her superiors,
gave her the various opportunities to serve in different parts of the world.
This great personality is proud for all of us Konkans. Along with mother
tongue Konkani she is fluent in English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, French, &
Arabic languages. As a missionary she has visited several countries like
India, France, Austria, Madagascar, Italy, Belgium, England, Ireland,
Singapore, Reunion, Benin, Algeria etc.
Sr. Clotilda Margaret was born in the year 1933 as the second child of the
devotional couple Late Rosario Fernandez & Mrs. Rekel Fernandez of Kota
parish. Also she is the grand daughter of Late Joseph Fernandez, the first
Christian came & settled in Kota. Kota, a small parish in the Diocese of
Mangalore, India is the birthplace of this great personality.
In the beginning she started her carrier as a teacher in a school at her
native place. But Gods wish was different, she accepted Gods wish & decided
to become a Nun to work in the harvest of God. So in the year 1960 at the
age of 27, she joined the Seletian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate order.
Recognizing her efficiency, capabilities & talents in the year 1976 their
Mother General (Supreme Head of the S.M.M.I order) in Paris called her to
France and appointed her as General Counselor. From 1976 to 1985 she served
as a Counselor in France. During this period of nine years she visited most
of the holy places in Europe like Lourdes, Rome, etc.
Before going to France she had served as Superior as well as Headmistress in
Mysore, Chamrajpet, Kunigal & Magge. (All places in the Indian state of
Karnataka)
After coming back from France, in the year 1985 she was conferred as the
Provincial of the Karnataka province in India. This was a great honor for
her to be the head of S.M.M.I order for the whole of Karnataka. From 1985 to
1991, for a period of six years as a Provincial of Karnataka she performed
her duties and responsibilities excellently. During this period she
celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her religious life. It was the great honor
for her that; the Arch Bishop of Bangalore H.E. Very Rt. Rev. Alphonse
Mathais celebrated the silver jubilee thanks giving mass.
In the year 1991 when she completed her term as the Provincial of Karnataka,
one more task was waiting for her to serve the good news of God to the poor
people in the African country of Algeria. The
country Algeria is in daily news since several years for the violence.
During her service in Algeria, several times luckily she escaped from
militant attacks but many of her co-missionaries have sacrificed their lives
in that country to fulfill God's wish. In spite of such difficulties &
dangers she served three & half years in Algeria to spread the good news of
God. She wanted to stay for some more years there to serve the poor, needy
Algerians. But in the year 1994, by observing the day-by-day increasing
attacks and killing of missionaries, the Bishop of Algeria asked all the
foreign missionaries to leave the country. So in the year 1994 unwillingly
she had to come back to India. She is asking all of us to pray for peace in
Algeria. During her mission in Africa she got the opportunity to visit the
great Sahara desert.
since then, she stayed at their convent in Kengeri, India for one & half
years to help in the Central Secretariat for the translation work. After
that she was sent to Sidhapur (a small village in the southern Indian state
of Karnataka) to do the pastoral work and to supervise the construction of
the new School Building.
Now she has a very responsible job as the Superior for the Novices at their
Novitiate house "Nirmala Giri" in Kengeri, Bangalore. Preparing the
youngsters to serve in the harvest of God. She gives lectures to the Novices
as well as junior sisters who come to their Novitiate house for six months
before their perpetual profession. Also every week she is going to
Chamrajpet to give lectures to the Postulants.
We wish good health and long life to this great spiritual personality to
serve more and more years in the harvest of God.
Courtesy: Sunil
Fernandes, Kota
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