‘THANK YOU’ DEAR SR.
NIRMALA!
Dear Sr. Nirmala,
A few hours
ago you said ‘good-bye’ to this world and you have now entered that place of
eternal happiness which was destined for you.
Ever since
I was told last morning that your end was near and this morning that you were
no more, my heart and my soul have been flooded with many memories of you and
for every flashback, I can only say ‘thank you, dear Sr. Nirmala’.
I vividly
remember those days you spent in Ahmedabad in 1998, your first visit here as
Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity. When you took over from Mother Teresa in
March 1997, we really did not know who this “Sr. Nirmala” was, who stepped into
the sandals of our beloved Mother. But
during your visit to Ahmedabad, you not only demonstrated that you were a great
soul but that you clearly manifested that you were a fitting successor to
Mother.
During your
visit here, you charmed everyone whom you encountered: the poor and the
powerful, the literate and illiterate, people from all walks of life and of
diverse religious beliefs. At the inter-religious prayer meeting we organised,
you truly spoke from your heart telling those present very categorically that
true religion is in the ability to unite and to love one another. Your down-to-earth simplicity, your
trade-mark humility and your gentle manner meant a lot to us here.
In the wake
of the attacks on the Christians in Orissa in 2008, I met you in Kolkata to see
how we could address the reality in a more concerted manner. You had just returned from there and were
convinced that “all would be well”. I
did not agree with you and even blurted out “Sr. Nirmala, please do not allow your goodness to cloud you from the
reality”. I still remember how you
did not respond but touched me gently and said, “Fr. Cedric, let us pray together for some time”. I immediately felt
a whole wave of calm and peace descend upon me. I remember thanking you profusely
for that special grace.
In
September 2014, when I was with Sr. Prema and the General team, you asked to
see me. The Sisters who were present at our meeting had already warned me that
your health was frail. On September 24th when I landed at St. John’s
to celebrate the Eucharist specially for you, I was told you were rather ill; I
would have to celebrate the Eucharist not in the Chapel but in the dormitory
above so that you could be there for my Mass. I was also told that you wanted
to receive the Sacrament of Healing. It was again a very special moment of
grace to have celebrated the Eucharist with you and then to anoint you. In
fact, I felt invigorated after that celebration. It was surely a miracle that after the
anointing the Sister Nirmala who was dying was up – and - about asking me a
million questions in a most caring and loving way. It was as though you were
keeping track of me, of all the happenings – the ups-and-downs in my life - during
these past years. What touched me most
was that you told me “I often pray to
Jesus for you – to keep you safe”.
It is a gift that I will always cherish.
No, Sister
Nirmala, I am not saying ‘good-bye’ to you; because I truly believe that you
are a Saint today guiding and directing me and many more in this journey of
life. On this earth, you radiated contemplation,
compassion and commitment in a
profound yet humble manner; your loving, disarming smile touched my heart and
millions all over. Continue to be with us today and always! - I pray to you...
Thank you
Sr. Nirmala for being Sr. Nirmala!
With love,
Cedric
23rd
June, 2015
(* Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is
the Director of PRASHANT, the
Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.)
Address: ‘PRASHANT’,
Hill Nagar, Near Saffron Hotel, Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad - 380052
Phone:
(079) 27455913, 66522333 Fax: (079) 27489018 Email: sjprashant@gmail.com www.humanrightsindia.in
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