By Purushottam Nayak
Berhampur, May 2, 2022: A Catholic nun, who has completed 50 years serving the poor and downtrodden, says God’s call is irresistible.
“Nobody can stop God’s call neither parents nor anyone, Sister Christa Joseph, a member of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa, told Matters India at her jubilee program in Chatrapur, a parish under the diocese of Berhampur in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
During the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district during Christmas season in 2007 and August 2008, Sister Christa courageously narrated to the media and others what the people had suffered.
Biproa Charan Nayak, president of Kandhamal survivor’s association, says they are proud of Sister Christa for dedicating her life for the poor and downtrodden of Kandhamal. “God saved her miraculously from anti-Christian violence of 2008 and today she is loved by all in the region,” he told Matters India.
The jubilee Mass on April 23 was attended by 20 priests, 35 nuns and 200 lay people.
Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur, who led the jubilee Mass said, “Not ability but availability to serve God makes a person happier and successful.”
The prelate says Sister Christa’s service to God with full commitment and dedication for half a century is an inspiration for many.
Born Jenny Joseph in Alapuzha district of Kerala, southern India, Sister Christa recalled her father’s objection to her joining the convent.
“Despite his reluctance, I am a nun for 50 years for the Lord serving Him with great joy and happiness,” added the 69-year-old nun, who was the only girl among the seven children of Joseph and Pandialakkal..
She made her profession May 1, 1972, and final May 31, 1978.
One of her brothers is a priest in the diocese of Jabalpur in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Sister Ann Jose, the congregation’s north provincial, says Sister Christa has a fascinating nature. Even when we are angry she laughs loudly and makes us too laugh along with her. She reaches out to help whenever needed,” Sister Jose added.
Sister Christa started her missionary journey in late1980’s in Kandhamal, one of the poorest districts of Odisha. He focus was to bring social changes among the poor and bring them to main stream society. She trained the youth for job oriented courses such as spoken English, type writing and shorthand and lately computer.
Her provincial says many young people, who benefitted from Sister Cresta’s services and found good jobs, remember her with gratitude. “She motivated school dropout girls and women to learn tailoring and now many now take care of their families with their income.”
Hearty congratulations to Sister Christa Joseph. Ad multos annos.