Ranchi: Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo Saturday formed a three-member tribunal to examine if the founder of the Daughters of St Anne Congregation (DSA), Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, had led a virtuous and religious life of love while serving on earth, the first step towards her possible sainthood.
In July, the Vatican had issued a ” nihil obstast” (nothing stands in the way) certificate for a thorough probe into the life of Mother Bernadette following which, Cardinal Toppo, who also holds the post of Archbishop of Ranchi, signed a decree on August 7, naming her a Servant of God, the first step towards sainthood.
The DSA founder is the first tribal nun to be considered for such an honour.
While Cardinal Toppo would be the president of the tribunal, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the highest policy making body of the Roman Catholic Church in India, has been appointed Episcopal Delegate or judge of the tribunal.
Jilson T. L, the secretary of the Regional Bishops Conference, has been named Promoter of Justice, who would act as public prosecutor and Sebastian Kodapattu, the superior of the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Congregation, would act as the notary responsible for recording all proceedings of the tribunal.
The formal announcement of setting up the tribunal came at the end of an early morning, two-hour mass led by Cardinal Toppo at the St Anne’s Convent chapel today.
“It is a rare honour for a tribal woman, the first in the country, to be put on the path of sainthood,” Cardinal Toppo told The Telegraph at the end of the mass.
“The tribunal is only the beginning of the second stage towards possible sainthood. The tribunal will function like a court, call and examine witnesses, who knew Mother Bernadette and cross-examine them. Each witness would be called to attest to the Mother’s goodness, holiness, devotion to God, love for the poor and downtrodden irrespective of religion or caste. ,” Bishop Mascarenhas told The Telegraph.
The tribunal would examine 10 to 15 witnesses who have known Mother Bernadette. “They would also be asked to submit documents, photographs or any other material evidence which they may have in their possession. All testimonies would be and verified. The findings of the tribunal would be put up before the Cardinal before they are sent to the Causes of Saints at the Vatican,” Bishop Mascarenhas said.
“The way to sainthood is long. If the Causes for Saints at the Vatican concurs with the findings of the tribunal, it would recommend to Pope Francis that Mother Bernadette be declared a Venerable,” he added.
Born on June 16, 1878, Mother Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta, along with three other sisters – Cecilia, Veronica and Mary – founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St Anne on July 26, 1897. She contracted TB and breathed her last at St Anne’s Convent on Purulia Road, Ranchi, on April 16, 1961.<>
Later, Cardinal Toppo inaugurated the Mother Bernadette Museum at the convent where the room in which she lived has been preserved. Her wooden table and a chair, now more than 100 years old, among other personal effects, have been kept there.