Warsaw: An Indian Catholic nun, who has served the health needs of the poor in Congo, Italy and Poland, has been awarded one of the top Polish awards for social service.
Sister Vinaya Mary, a Benedictine nun, received “Dyplom Pro Publico Bono” (diploma for good public service) from Poland’s Minister for Labor and Social Policy Wladistow Kosiniak Kamysz at a function held at Warsaw on April 11. Six Polish doctors were also honored on the occasion.
She is the first Indian to receive the prestigious award.
Sr. Mary belongs to St. Michael’s parish, Kumbalam, in Quilon Latin diocese.
The daughter of Alice and late Sebastian Pezhumvila joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1976 and took her final vows in 1984.
After completing her nursing course, she worked at places such as Thiriuvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi and Aluva.
As part of her mission service she went to Italy where she worked until 1991. She returned to Kollam and served at Bishop Benziger Hospital and later at Loka Rakshaka Hospital, Arinalloor.
She also served as the healthcare coordinator for the Quilon Social Service Society during 1991-1993.
The following year, she joined the “Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face” congregation and worked in Thangassery, Karichal and Alapuzha.
In 2004, she went to Africa to work as a missionary in the Republic of Congo. The following year she went to Poland in 2005 and was engaged in various services.
She then returned to Karichal near Alapuzha in Kerala to head the St. Abbot Gregory School.
Her second phase of foreign mission began in 2013 when she returned to Poland where she has been working since then.
According to Wikipedia, the “Pro Publico Bono” is a phrase derived from Latin meaning “for the good of all.” This phrase is often used to describe voluntary public service.