Observation of the death centenary of Servant of God Mother Eliswa, founder of the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC), the first indigenous congregation for women in Kerala, will commence at Varapuzha on July 18. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will inaugurate the public meeting to be held at Koonammavu on July 21.
"The functions being held at St Joseph’s Church, Varapuzha and St Philomina’s school grounds will be marked by the presence of Cardinals, priests, Union ministers and state ministers and leaders of various social and political organisations’’, CTC superior general Sr Liza said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The prayer service will begin with a prayer at the tomb of Mother Eliswa at Varapuzha on July 18. Kottapuram Bishop Joseph Karikkassery will lead the prayer. This will be followed by a pontifical mass at which Ranchi Bishop Telesphore Topo will be the chief celebrant. Archbishop of Verapoly Francis Kallarakkal and Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) president Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath will speak. Bishops Remigiose, Stanley Roman, Joseph Kasriyil, Joseph Karikassey, Sebastian Thekkethecheril, Vincent Samuel, Peter Parapilly, Frederick D’souza, and Joseph G Fernandez will be present.
Functions organised at Koonammavu begins on July 21 with a KCYM rally from Varapuzha and KLCA rally from Ochanthuruthu arriving at St Philomina’s school ground. Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Soosa Pakiam will be the chief celebrant at the Holy Mass. The prayers during the mass will be said in five languages - Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.
Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar will inaugurate the public meeting. Cardinal Baselios mar Cleemis will deliver the benedictory address. Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas will distribute the keys of houses constructed to mark the death centenary, while PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju will release the books on Mother Eliswa. The function will be followed by cultural programmes.