By: Matters India Reporter

Secunderabad: Sr. Ursula Indwar , member of the current Governing Board of Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) has passed away on May 25 . She had started her term on September 2015 and represented the whole of the North East Region.

Sr. Ursula was born to Albis Indwar and Rosa Surin in Upper Namsai village of Naharkatia Parish, in the District of Dibrugarh on June 25, 1957. In 1977, she joined the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC), the first indigenous Congregation in North East India.

She made her first profession on Dec 8, 1981. After completing General Nursing at Nazareth Hospital at Shillong, Sr. Ursula served the local communities at Namrup, Sarupathar, Kohima and Dibrugarh as teacher, community animator, diocesan Health Co-ordinator.

In 2007, she was elected as the Vice Provincial, and in 2010, Provincial Superior of Sacred Heart Province, Tinsukia. Her companions reiterate, “Sr. Ursula carried out her responsibility as Provincial serenely and calmly, with much dedication to further missionary charism of MSMHC. Even while she was the Provincial, she was a front line missionary herself – found time to be in the villages of Arunachal Pradesh or Assam.

The beginning of May, she had visited CHAI to attend the Board meeting that was held on May 4-5. On May 16, morning, Sr. Ursula who was always punctual and would never compromise on her community prayer, was found absent for prayers and Holy Mass. Sr. Jacinta Sailo the animator of the house, rushed to her room and, found Sr. Ursula unconscious. Immediately she was rushed to V G Hospital, Dibrugarh.

In the hospital the doctors examined her and shifted her to Brahmaputra Hospital where emergency surgery of the brain was performed. However, Sr. Ursula continued to be in coma through the following days and on May 25, at 4.43 pm, she transitioned from this life, in the presence of Sr. Jane Francis, the general Councilor, and many sisters around her.

Compelled by the love of Christ, Sr. Ursula served the people for 36 years as an active Missionary. She was very much at home with all cultures, languages and people.  Hallmark of her service was compassion, humility, simplicity and gentleness. Even when faced with adversities, she maintained her tranquillity and serenity. She had spent a lot of time and energy for the tea garden workers of Assam, especially those who were affected with Tuberculosis. May she Rest In Peace!