Born - 16.07.1958
Entered Bethany - 28.07.1974
Temporary Profession - 12.05.1978
Perpetual Profession - 08.05.1984
Slept in the Lord - 28.12.2023
“Be faithful unto to death and I will give you the crown of life” Rev. 2/10
Sr Carmine Lobo BS nee Carmine Lobo (65) of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore, passed away peacefully at 5:20am on Thursday 28th December 2023 at Bethany Convent, Garchuk, Guwahati. She hails from Our Lady of Dolours Parish Vittal, Mangalore. She is the daughter of late Maurice Lobo and Benedicta Lobo. Sr Carmine with her twin brother Valerian is the eldest of the 11 children. They were 7 girls and 4 boys. She grew up in an atmosphere of love and care in a devout family in the loving company of her siblings. Two of her younger sisters are religious; Sr Tara BS of Northern Province and Sr Rosilda SCCG (Sisters of Charity)
Sr Carmine was known for her quiet and simple nature; carried on the responsibilities assigned to her with utmost diligence and commitment. She served as the Superior of the Convent in Thanlon Manipur andin Mamit. She served as the headmistress& dedicated teacher at various Schools in Kalpetta -Kerala, Viswema -Nagaland, Silchar & Lumding - Assam, Khatacherra & Agartala -Tripura, Kolasib, and Aizwal & Mamit- Mizoram. Tanlon- Manipur, Loyola-Kolkata. She was a faithful steward, very meticulous in her work, neat & tidy in maintaining the documents. Her account writing was so systematic and precise that on account of which she was chosen to be the Province Procurator in the year 2016 and continued in this responsibility till the end of her life. But her life was mostly hidden.
Sr Carmine always seemed to be healthy, until the first symptoms of her illness appeared in December 2022 and her diagnosis took everyone by surprise. She was diagnosed with rectum cancer. She endured her pain and sufferings very patiently. Community sisters & candidates prayed for her complete recovery by repeating the Word of God daily. She too prayed with much faith and trust in the merciful love of God. We stormed heaven and prayed unceasingly that in the month of July doctor certified that she was completely healed of her disease. Even in her illness she attended to the financial affairs of the Province with the assistance of Sr Saritha. She went to Mangalore to attend her mother’s funeral in the month of August and met all her family members. She seemed to be extremely happy, so also the rest of us, that she had recovered. She began attending to her duty of financial matters with greater enthusiasm.
In the first week of October she showed signs of relapse of illness to the surprise of everyone. At doctor’s advice all the tests were repeated. It was found that the disease had quietly spread to other organs and chemotherapy was repeated.
She was admitted to St John’s Hospital Guwahati on 9th December. She underwent a few sessions of dialysis. On 22nd December Sr Carmine entered into the stage of coma. Sr Provincial Sr Benedicta with other Sisters rushed to the Hospital to be at her side. She did not respond to further treatment. Sr Rose Celine the Superior General was informed about her condition who offered support of her prayers and kept enquiring about her condition. Sr Carmine remained in that condition until she breathed her last at 5:20 am on 28th December 2023.
Sisters particularly Junior Sisters took great care by taking turns to be with her. Her Sisters Tara, Rosilda,Flavia, Lucy, her nephew and her twin brother Valerian paid her visits and offered her comfort and relief in her suffering and pain.
I extend my sincere condolence to Sr Benedicta Aranha, the Provincial Superior and all the sisters of Guwahati Province, Sr Benedicta Sapna the local Superior and the members of Bethany Convent Garchuk who cared for her lovingly.
Her funeral rites will be held at Bethany Provincial House, Guwahati on 28th December2023 Thursday at 3:00 pm.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace!
Sr Rose Celine BS
Superior General