By Matters India Reporter

Rome: The Daughters of the Cross of Liège (FC) has elected two Indians to its five-member central leadership team.

During its General Chapter in Rome, May 14-30, the members elected Sister Pushpa Elishwa Purathur as the new mother general. She is the second Indian to head the order, which was founded by Blessed Marie Thérèse in 1833 in Belgium. This was the first Chapter held (in Rome) outside the Mother House in Liège.

Her new team members are Sister Valerie Miranda from Bombay, Sister Mary McLaughlin from England, Sister Zeenat Shangara from Pakistan, and Sister Maureen O’Brien from England.

Prior to her election, the 70-year old Sister Purathur was the first general councilor of the congregation.

Today the congregation is present in 11 countries including in United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Germany, Ireland, India, Italy, Nepal, and Pakistan.

In India, it has three provinces: Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kolkata (West Bengal), and Rourkela (Odisha).

The title that Blessed Marie Thérèse gave to the Congregation was significant. She had thought about it for a long time and from the contemplation of the passion and compassion of the Crucified Christ she learned a tender, generous love which led her to follow Him. It summed up all she understood of the dual ideal of sacrifice and service which is at the very heart of Christianity.