By Shiji Abraham

Mumbai, Oct 14, 2021: Members of a Mumbai parish say a virtual program on the Bible conducted by nuns has helped them understand the importance of reading the Word of God.

“It was good to talk to the sisters who listened to me and my struggles. They helped me understand the importance of reading the Word of God every day with a lit candle as reverence,” said George Botelho after the Daughters of Paul congregation organized the program in his St. Teresa’s Church, Girgaum, a parish under the Archdiocese of Bombay.

“Assurance of prayers was a really comforting and confident feeling,” he told Matters India.

The October 3-13 program was part of the parish’s preparation for the feast of its patron, Saint Teresa of Avila, on October 15.

The Daughters of St Paul has been organizing the weeklong annual program on the Bible in various parishes. However, they could not conduct it last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hence they opted to go online this year.

Parish priest Father Anthony J Fernandes said it was the first time religious women organized the virtual family visits in the archdiocese. “I have so many messages from the parishioners, appreciating the sisters for their services,” he said.

Through phone and video calls the sisters listened to parishioners’ problems and difficulties. They read a passage from the Bible and gave a brief overview of the life of St. Teresa of Avila. They ended the virtual meeting with a decade of the Rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet, especially praying for the parishioners’ intentions.

Luminia Botelho, another parishioner and mother of twins, said she met the nuns with her children through a WhatsApp call. “They made my kids comfortable first. For the first time my daughter Nyesha spoke to the sisters, as otherwise she is shy. The sisters told us how to keep Jesus as a center of our life,” she said.

Sister Lilly Mathew, director novices of the congregation who joined the Bible program, said they interacted and prayed with the families virtually. “During the last three days we conducted various programs in the parish, ending with the enthronement of the Bible,” she explained.

Sister Joeyanna D’Souza, another nun in the program, said the parish priest and parish pastoral council fixed slots for virtually visiting the families of the parish. “The families were ready for our virtual visits. It was indeed a moment of sharing, prayer and interaction,” she said.

She said the sisters generally visit the families during the Bible week, “but this time due to the pandemic, we made it virtual. Thus we would not forgo our mission done annually in a parish of the archdiocese.”

Sandhya Francis Fernandes, a parishioner, appreciated the nuns for reaching out to families amid the Covid-19 restrictions. “Your simple act of prayer can help encourage and enlighten an individual and family,” she said and added that the nuns’ sharing about the life of Saint Teresa of Avila was “the best part and it touched me.”

Another parishioner suffering from Covid-19, who prefers to remain anonymous, too appreciated the sisters “for the time spent with our families. What has touched me most is that both the Sisters prayed for my recovery from Covid.”

The program also included Bible Quiz, Quiz on the life of St Teresa of Avila and a book exhibition.