Sr. Lina Vadakkan

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world”. Mt. 25:34 The Lord has called to himself Sr. Lina to gift her with the crown of eternal life which he has prepared for those who love him. Sr. Lina was born on 14th January 1933 to Mr. Mathew Vadakkan and Mrs. Mariamma as the fourth of eight children in the diocese of Palai. She was named Chinnamma and her baptismal name was Elizabeth. After her schooling, she joined the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate at Kannur in 1957. She made her first profession in 1960 and final profession 1965. She served the Lord in our communities at Kanpur, Renukoot, Robertsganj, Bazpur, Chandigarh, Kannur and Calicut. With great care and dedication she supervised the department of linen for the hospital in Calicut for a good number of years. Her life was very simple and unassuming with a high sense of loyalty to the Congregation. She enriched her life of consecration with ‘quality prayer’ coupled with a genuine spirit of sacrifice and dedication. Whatever assignment was entrusted to her, she was ever eager to accomplish it, with great love and utmost perfection with the sole aim of pleasing God and doing his will. She possessed a genuine, joyful spirit, cared and loved everyone, was meek and gentle in her dealings especially the poor, the weak, and the marginalised. Since few years Sr. Lina was leading a retired life due to physical weakness and spent her time in prayer and in reading spiritual books. On and off she suffered from complications due to gall bladder stone. On 29th April she was admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain, due to severe infection and liver failure. She was administered the anointing of the sick and she prepared herself well for her last journey. On 7th May, she showed signs of the end of her joyous journey and she offered her spirit to the Lord amidst the prayers of our sisters who were at her bedside. The family of Sr. Lina is rich in vocations to religious and priestly life. She was the eldest of the three sisters who consecrated themselves in the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate family. Her nephew, Fr. Augustine Vadakkan, serves in the Archdiocese of Tellichery and her grand nephew is a deacon with the C.S.T. Fathers. Besides, there are also sisters in other Congregations. Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal, bishop of Calicut who could not be present for the funeral, came to pray the Office of the Dead and give his blessing. Her relatives and people from all walks of life came to pray for her. The sisters kept vigil throughout the night. The funeral Mass was celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Thomas Panackal, Vicar General of Calicut diocese, with other concelebrants. Fr. Aloysius Kulangara gave a meaningful funeral oration. After the funeral rites Sr. Lina’s mortal remains began its final journey to the Holy Redeemer Church cemetery and Fr. Paul A.J. led the last prayers. Let us rest assured that the FATHER rewards Sr. Lina for all the good she has done here on earth and pray that she, intercedes for us to the Lord, to bless her family, our Congregation, the Church and the World with His choicest graces and blessings