Pauline nuns spread Lenten message through Mary’s eyes

By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Bandra, March 22, 2024: The Daughters of St Paul on March 22 concluded their 36-day program of spreading the message of Lent through Mother Mary’s perspective.

“During lent we wanted to communicate the love of Jesus. Nothing else can demonstrate God’s love more powerfully than the cross where Jesus revealed the love of God. So, we decided to enact the Way of the Cross as the best way to convey this message,” said Sister Matilda Rose, who initiated the program.

The nuns, based in Mumbai’s Bandra, the congregation’s Indian headquarters, formed a team and Sister Anna Kipunamai prepared the text of the “With Mary on the Way of the Cross.”

Starting at St John the Baptist Church in Mumbai’s Marol, on February 16, the first Friday of Lent, the congregation staged the Way of the Cross in 12 parishes in Bombay archdiocese and the dioceses of Vasai and Nasik.

It ended on the 40th day of the Lent, at Gonsalo Garcia parish in the diocese of Vasai.

Gonsalo Garcia parish priest Father Peter Almeida said with joy, “I saw tears in the eyes of our people. Women were wiping their tears with their handkerchiefs. I controlled my tears. What was touching was the expressions on the face of Jesus and Mary.”

He found the scene where Jesus is taken down from the Cross breathtaking. “We all were waiting anxiously. The way they carried the body of Jesus was quite impressive,” the priest said and commended the team for completing the scene in the allotted half an hour, keeping the sanctity of the place.

Sister Matilda D’Souza, the congregation’s Indian provincial, said a 17-member team comprising sisters, novices and aspirants enacted the Way of the Cross. A young couple from St Theresa’s parish, Bandra, also joined them.

“With melodious singing and acting apt for the Way of the Cross the team made the parishioners pray with deep faith, recalling their own way of the cross in life,” the provincial claimed. According to her, Lent is the best time to motivate people to repent their sins and receive Jesus’ unconditional love in their life.

The nuns traveled to the parishes mostly in two vehicles, keeping the novices in their lap. They also had to carry the costumes and a big cross.

Driving to parishes in Nasik and Vasai dioceses took long hours. They hired a larger vehicle to go to Nasik as one group.

“We had to reach a place one hour early to dress up. Though tired and sick, we felt refreshed after the program, especially when we noticed people’s response,” Sister Sushma Kullu, the novice director, told Matters India.

Sister Naomi Ngade, a provincial councilor who was part of the team, said they practiced the program a month ahead. “It took a lot of time. We were so tired that we could not function well next day.”

The nuns had staged the program in 2020, but had to call it off after three parishes because of the Covid pandemic.

Mark Anthony Hopkins, who acted as Jesus, said he had “an unbelievable experience.” The nuns treated “me and my wife like one of them. We felt at home.”

The only layman in the team said he thought the program was only for a parish when he asked to play Jesus. “It was a shock to me when I realized we would do it in 12 parishes,” he told Matters India.

Hopkins said he was happy to be a part of the team that touched many hearts.

Sister Kipunamai said she felt privileged and challenged to play Mother Mary, the Mother of God, who personified strength and grace in the face of adversity. She was also human, deeply familiar with pain and sorrow.

“I chose to get into the latter aspect of her character to connect with and empathize with countless mothers of today. The role was profoundly emotional, as it reminded one the plight of today’s mothers who endure similar situations.”

Sister Rose said she experienced an inner joy “because we have been instrumental in communicating God’s love to many people.”

She said more than 200 people watched the program in each parish.

Sister Joeyanna D’Souza, another provincial councilor, said the program gave them an opportunity to tell people about our Venerable Thecla Merlo, their co-founder on her 60th death anniversary.

“Hundreds of people have got to know her and prayed through her intercession,” she added.

Being part of the spiritual venture, she too found the program “uplifting.”