Patna mourns death of nun who loved nature

By Matters India Reporter

Patna, June 6, 2023: People in Patna, eastern India, have mourned the death of a Eurasian nun who had spent most of her time caring for nature, following the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Sister Mary Hildegard Gardiner, had “for the whole of her life nurtured, preserved and lived a life, being a good steward of God’s beautiful creation,” says Sister Kiren Muthukalathil, the Congregation of Jesus’s Patna provincial.

Sister Hildegard, as the deceased nun was known, died June 2 at St Joseph’s Convent in Bankipur, downtown Patna, capital of Bihar state. Hundreds of people from all walks of life attended the funeral at 4 pm on June 3 at Patna’s St Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral. She was 91.

The mourners included former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav, who maintained close friendship with Sister Hildegard since the time his daughters studied in St Joseph’s Convent School.

Mourning the death Sister Muthukalathil recalled Sister Hildegard’s exhortation: “We must not destroy the world, but preserve it – every single creature, every insect, every plant is part of God’s world. Woe to those that disturb His world! Hail to those that preserve His world.”

The provincial said Sister Hildegard had “lived a simple life, avoiding all the superfluities of life but possessed a heart full of warmth, generous and loving.”

Sister Hildegard was born Mary Margaret Gardiner to James George and his wife on January 31, 1932, at Kathgodam, in Uttarakhand. Her father was English and her mother an Indian. She was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s parish, Jeolikote and she studied at St. Anthony’s School there, staying in a hostel managed by the Congregation of Jesus.

After the school, she joined the same congregation and took the first vows on September 24, 1954 and the final vows six years later.

She taught in the congregation’s schools at Patna, Jhansi and Sharpur, both in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar’s western neighboring state, during 1956-1965.

She also served as a dietitian, gardener and farm in charge at Allahabad, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Patna.

“As farm in charge at the St Joseph’s Convent Bankipur, Patna, she rendered her loving service in Patna from 1973 to 2023, completing her golden years, ringing the diamond jubilee bells as well as celebrating her 70 years of dedication in the CJ family in 2022,” the provincial said.

She spent 50 years in Patna, following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi. “She lived an ordinary life; never looked for any positions. With her green hands and planned cultivation, she provided good and fresh vegetables, sufficient milk and seasonal fruits,” Sister Muthukalathil recalled.

The provincial also said her senior had given her love and attention not only to her coworkers and collaborators but to “every animal, bird and plant under her care.” She enjoyed feeding the ‘minas,’ squirrels, mongoose and her ‘mitoo’ parrot.

Yadav, a prominent politician in Bihar, “used to pay our sisters regular visits as his daughters studied in SJC School, Bankipur. Sister Hildegard being a sociable person built up a good relationship with Lalu Prasad and he addressed her as ‘Didi,” the provincial said.

Yadav used to visit the farm that has many milch animals, seasonal vegetables and fruits. The garden had seasonal fruits and vegetables, especially jack fruits that Yadav enjoyed.

Yadav attended the funeral and paid his homage to his “Didi,” (elder sister).’ He prayed near her mortal remains and visited her grave in the convent compound.