Pope Francis on the Ascension: Christ 'does not want to limit our freedom' by his presence

Reflecting on the feast of the Ascension, Pope Francis on Sunday discussed…

Pope Francis
Canonical Visitation Tinsukia Province

Canonical Visitation in Sacred Heart Province Tinsukia The Superior General…

Superior General with the sisters and Candidates of Tinsukia Province
Pope Francis Breathes on Chrism Oil

Pope Francis breathes on chrism oil, a gesture symbolizing the infusion of…

Chrism Mass
Superiors General

Sister Mary Rose ThapaSr. Mary Rose Thapa was appointed to the office of the Mother General to be the first Mother General of the Congregation on 4 February 1970. The First General Chapter was held from 3 July 1972 at St. Margaret’s Convent, Shillong, with the special purpose of updating the Constitutions in accordance with the instructions given by the Holy See and also to adapt the apostolate of the Congregation according to the signs of the times. Thirty-four capitulars participated in the Chapter with Mgr. Orestes Marengo SDB, as the moderator of the Chapter and Fr. N.J. Kenny, the Spiritual director of the Congregation as the delegate of the Archbishop of Shillong. The Mother General convoked the Second General Chapter of the Congregation by her circular No. 13, dated 17 June 1975. There were two principal purpose of the Chapter. First, to elect the Mother General and the members of her council. Second, to make the needed amendments to the Constitutions before they were submitted to the ecclesiastical authority for formal and definitive approval. Sr. Elizabeth Packumala was the moderator of the Chapter. There were thirty-seven members. The Chapter lasted for a week. During the Chapter Sr. Mary Rose Thapa was elected for the second time as Mother General. Sr. Elizabeth Packumala was elected as Vicar General. The Chapter formed six Commissions for the study of various themes pertaining to the spirit and charism of the Congregation.

The Third General Chapter was held from 4 January to 15 January 1982. Sr. Mary Rose Thapa was elected Mother General for the third term. The main purpose of the Chapter was to study the suggested amendments to the Constitutions and Regulations. Don E. Vigano, the Rector Major, gave the Congregation official recognition as a member of the Salesian Family in 1986. The dream of the Missionary Sisters was fulfilled on 3 December 1987 when the mortal remains of the Founder were transferred from Italy to Shillong. The wish of Bishop Ferrando himself, to be buried in India was also fulfilled on this day. On the visit of Fr. Tarcisius Resto, the then Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Shillong to Genova, Bishop Ferrando’s concluding message was: “I want my bones to be buried in Khasi-Jaintia hills.” A solemn requiem Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Shillong on 12 December. The mortal remains were then taken in procession to St. Margaret’s Convent Chapel (Shillong) and interred in a tomb artistically designed by Fr. L.B. Anthony SDB.

Sister Elizabeth PackumalaSr. Elizabeth Packumala was elected the Second Mother General of the Congregation in the fourth General Chapter held in 1988. The Chapter brought about changes in the administration of the Congregation. The Congregation was divided into three provinces, viz., Tinsukia, Tezpur and Shillong. The years between 1994-2000 were a period of revival and renewed activity in the Congregation. The qualitative and quantitative growth of the Congregation has brought greater vitality to the Catholic Church in North-east and to people in general.

The Fifth General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters was held in January 1994 in the new Generalate at Guwahati. It was the first after the erection of the three provinces. The Chapter re-elected Sr. Elizabeth Pakumala to the post of Mother General for a second term.

Sister Mary ThadavanalSr. Mary Thadavanal

 

 

 

 

Sister Philomina MathewSr. Philomina Mathew