By Matters India Reporter
Bangalore, Feb 23, 2020: The Apostolic Carmel Sisters on February 23 elected Sister Nirmalini,a renowned educationist and human rights activist, as the twelfth superior general of their 150-year-old indigenous congregation.
The election took place during the congregation’s 20th ordinary general chapter underway in Bengaluru, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
The general chapter began on February 1 and will conclude on March 5.
Sister Nirmalini is currently the provincial superior of the congregation’s western province.
The Mumbai-born 54-year-old nun and her team will lead the congregation for the next six years.
The election process began with a Mass presided over by Jesuit Bishop Francis Serrao of Shimoga. His homily he set the tone for the awaited elections.
Sister Nirmalini, who was principal of Carmel Convent in New Delhi, before she became the provincial in 2015. In the national capital, she had made a name as an activist for human and women’s rights. She had received the best Teacher’s Award a few years ago.
She joined the congregation in Bandra after completing her graduation in the Commerce stream.
It is the first time that the congregation has elected such a young person as its leader. “I rely fully on God’s mercy and the guidance of the Holy Spirit with my focus on Jesus present in the Eucharist to help me in this challenging job,” Sister Nirmalini said after her election.
Her team consists of Sister Linette, the Assistant Superior General, and Sisters Ancilla, Vimala Paul and Nessa as the General Councillors.
Sister Nirmalini takes over the challenge of leading 1,500 members of the congregation, majority them working in India in the field of education. Its members also work in France, Kenya, Kuwait, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The order has five provinces in India and one in Sri Lanka. It has a delegation and one region in East Africa.