By Irudhaya Jothi
Kailashahar, Oct. 9, 2021: Sister Josline, a Franciscan Clarist nun, died October 9, a day after she met with road accident.
The 66-year-old nun died in Agartala Government Medical College and Govid Ballabh Pant Hospital in Agartala, capital of Tripura.
Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala announced the death at 2:49 pm on the diocesan WhatsApp group.
The Holy Cross prelate had earlier asked his people to pray Sister Josline after the accident the previous morning.
Sister Josline was the superior of St Alphonsa Convent at Sindukpathar in south Tripura, some 115 km south of Agartala.
The Times News Tripura reported that a goods carrier had collided with a car carrying three women, including two Clarist nuns, and a layman, on the National Highway 8. All of them were injured and rushed to the hospital.
The other nun, Sister Maria Therese, 73, fractured both the legs while others had milder injuries. The other companions in the car, Bina Thomas, and Tom Thomas, are reportedly out of danger.
Sister Josline was working with the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales, or Fransalians, who set up the Sindukpathar parish in 2008.
The Franciscan Clarist Congregation started its Agartala mission in 2011 and they have two communities. The other community is in East Harina, where Sr. Maria Therese is stationed.
The sisters came from the Sacred Heart Province of Ernakulam.
After the provincial from Aluva is reaches Agartala the mortal remains of Sister Josline will be taken to the congregation’s headquarters in Aluva, Kerala, for burial.
The congregation was started on December 14, 1888, and the Ernakulam province in 1928.
At present the province has 783 members in 60 houses. They are serving, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kerala and Tripura in India and Kenya, Germany and Italy.
The congregation has given the Church two saints — Saint Alphonsa and Blessed Rani Maria.
Sad loss. Respectful farewell to Sister Josline. Wishing the injured recovery and strength. God bless.