Birth :08.02.1929
Entered Bethany : 26.05.1946
First Profession:12.05.1948
Perpetual Profession : 07.05.1954
Entered Eternity:09.10.2023
Sr Mary Laeta BS (94) nee Christine Fernandes, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore passed away peacefully at 8:30 pm on 09 October 2023 at Bethany Convent Bangalore (Jayamahal) due to the cardiac arrest. She is the daughter of late Mr Rosario Fernandes and late Mrs. Lucy Fernandes, belonging to Holy Cross Parish,Kulshekar of Mangalore Diocese. She had one brother and eleven sisters among whom late Sr Gretta, a Bethany sister is one of them.
Sr Laeta was a person of prayer. She was prompt to rise early and spend the day in the presence of the Lord. She spent long hours before the Blessed Sacrament and was a powerful intercessor. She had great devotion to the Blessed Mother and Rosary was her constant companion especially when she was incapacitated. She displayed a tender attitude towards the young and old all through her life. She was affectionate and sought the company of sisters. Fidelity to the assigned responsibility was her hallmark. She possessed the qualities of love, simplicity, concern,gentleness, sensitivity to the others and hard work. Had great love for the poor and needy. She is a lover of nature and of manual labour.
She had her early education at St Joseph’s higher primary School, Kulshekar and Sacred Heart’s High School, Kulshekar. She followed her elder sister Sr Gretta who had already responded to the call of Jesus and joined Bethany on 26.05.1946 to follow Jesus closely. She made her First Profession in 1948. Then she pursued her Teacher’s Training at St Ann’s Teacher Training Institute, Mangalore and surrendered herself totally to the service of God through her Final Commitment in 1954. She served as a pioneer of the mission, loving Superior, dedicated teacher and accountant at Maryvale Convent Kinnigoli, Madeleine Convent Londa , Ave Maria Sirsi, Fatima Convent Dornahalli, St Joseph’s Convent KR Nagar, St Mary’s Convent Arsikere, Lisieux Convent Puttur, St Mary’s Convent Dahanu Mumbai, Ish Kripa Vasai Mumbai, Jeevanalaya Panvel New Mumbai, St Antony’s Convent Ponnampet, Bethany Convent Bogadi and Bethany Convent Bangalore.
Her 94 years of earthly life and 75 years of religious life were made meaningful and fruitful in the mission of education, pastoral, caring for the sick and clerical work. She was blessed with many talents. As a teacher she brightened the lives of the little ones imparting knowledge, teaching values and catechism. She was an enthusiastic, active and loving teacher. She gave priority to family apostolate visited the families, listened to their problems, comforted and supported the families in their faith journey and in times of crisis.
She was suffering from age related problems and was under medication. On 9 October she received Holy Communion in the morning, prayed the Rosary in the evening along with the community sisters. At 8:30 pm she suffered a cardiac arrest and flew away to meet her eternal bridegroom in the presence of the sisters, who accompanied her by prayers and commended her soul to God.
Her funeral rites will be held at St John the Evangelist Church, J C Nagar, Bangalore on 11.10.2023 at 10:30 am.
I extend my sincere condolences to Sr Sahana, the Provincial Superior and all the sisters of Bangalore Province, Sr Severine, the local Superior and the members of Bethany Convent Jayamahal, Bangalore.
Eternal Rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace Amen.
Sr Rose Celine BS
Superior General