Sr. Jacintha Kurianippadam

“After the season of suffering, God in all His grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Pet. 5:10 “Lord, don’t be late to Take Away this Little Flower of Yours… I long to have a Vision of Yours.” From March 2017 onwards this was the prayer of Sr. Jacintha. The Lord’s response came on 1st May her Parton’s Day when she took her flight to heaven. Sr. Jacintha was born on 19th March 1939 as the 6th child of Abraham and Rosamma Kurianippadam, in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry. She was called Cicily at home and in religious life Jacintha. She followed her elder sister Sr. Michaelina, and joined the Ursuline family. She made her first Profession in 1960 and the Final Profession in 1965. She trained herself as a Hindi teacher and for 35 long years she taught in St. Paul’s U.P. School Trikaripur, Kannur Diocese. In her forties she was diagnosed of the malignant disease of cancer. Timely treatment with trusting prayer healed her and she was back to her mission with greater zeal. Sr. Jacintha was always cheerful, prayerful and a God filled person. She kept herself engaged in all the activities of the community and found sufficient time to be with the Lord in prayer. She was a model for the Ursulines and taught that relationship with human beings is same as the relationship with God. She always maintained good rapport and was a good listener. Wherever she had been, she was always renowned as a good gardener, naturalist, positive thinker and perfectionist. She was creative, caring, hospitable and never neglected the poor and needy. Sr. Jacinta was retired from the school in 1998 and was transferred to Ursuline Convent, Pariyaram where she served as Hostel Warden and engaged herself in pastoral activities up to 2010. Towards the end of July 2016, she was found sick of cancer again and started with chemotherapy in Nirmala Hospital, Calicut. Forgetting her pain she comforted and consoled those colleagues and students who visited her, and even assured them of her prayer. Sr. Jacintha was taken care of by Sr. Michaelina, her sister who was with her for the last two months as she had requested her to prepare her for a good death. Miss. Silvy Joseph was a constant bedside nurse. Sr. Jacintha was conscious till the end of her life and was longing to meet her beloved spouse. She often asked for the anointing of the sick and was given to her by Rev.Fr.Vincent Pulickal. Thus she prepared herself for a good death. On 1st May, at 4.00 a.m. she woke up from her sleep and cried out “Jesus” and then she was calm and serene on her bed. Hearing her cry, sisters rushed to her and soon many were around her bed praying for her. In the presence of all, she breathed her last at 4.30 a.m. Her mortal remains were taken to Brigida Bhavan and the Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev.Fr.Vincent Pulickal. Then, her mortal remains were brought to Ursuline Convent, Kannur. All the sisters of our Provincial House and other communities were present. Msgr. Clarence Paliyath, the Vicar General, of Kannur Diocese, con-celebrated the Mass along with a good number of Priests. Rev.Fr. Jacob Jose in his homily recalled the ever memorable experiences that he had about her. Msgr. Antony Pius, and Rev.Fr. Jilson Panackal led the last rites and her mortal remains were laid to rest in the Holy Trinity Cathedral Cemetery. A note of thanks to our Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakumthala, Bishop of Kannur, for your presence and for giving the last blessing to our dear Sr. Jacintha. We entrust the beautiful soul of Sr. Jacintha into the hands of the Lord and we believe that she will intercede for all the sick members of our Congregation and for each one of us.