Nun who became “mother” to Malappuram Muslim women dies

By Thomas Scaria

Mangaluru, Oct 24, 2024: Church leaders have mourned the death of a well-known social worker and reformer, who had become “amma” (mother) to hundreds of women, mostly Muslims, in Kerala’s Malappuram district.

Apostolic Carmel Sister Marienie succumbed to cancer on October 21 at a private hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala. She was 58.

“Her passion for the people of Nilambur [Kerala] was palpable in everything she dreamt and did for them,” Sister Maria Nirmalini, Apostolic Carmel. superior general told Matters India October 23.

Sister Marienie was a crusader of women’s empowerment in Nilambur, a town in Kerala’s Malappuram district, as the director of Fatimagiri Social Service Centre since 2010. She had worked tirelessly for their welfare and brought several changes in their lives, Sister Nirmalini said.

Sister Marienie was the recipient of awards for her social work from the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, the Deepika and several local and national organizations.

“Her empowerment of women, awareness programs and relief and comfort during floods were well appreciated,” said Sister Nirmalini who termed Sister Marinie’s “untimely death” as a big loss to their congregation as well as to the people of Kerala.

Bishop Varghese Chakkalackal of Calicut, who presided over the funeral services at Apostolic Carmel provincialate on October 22, recalled that Sister Marienie had touched people with her love and healing wherever she worked and whomever she served.

Carmelite Father Roy Kannanchira, who interviewed Sister Marienie for a TV program, said the Catholic nun had brought a new phase of social empowerment to especially the Muslim women in Malappuram region. She had taken the ministry beyond social or religious differences, he added.

“She saw the needs of the people as needs of God and served them with passion and dedication,” the priest told Matters India.

Sister Marienie had done her masters in Social Work at School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore. She took over Fatimagiri Social Service Centre in 2010 as its director.

“A great student and of course a great social worker and inspiration,” said Sister Juliet Joseph, who was Roshni Nilaya director when Marienie was a student.

The Daughters of the Heart of Mary recalled that Sister Marienie had “tremendous zeal for social work” as a student in her institution under her maiden name, Marykutty Joseph.

“I was privileged to teach and guide Markutty in her field work at Link De-addiction Centre. I had noticed her commitment that brought transformation in the lives of many persons suffering from the aftereffects of addiction,” Joseph, who is now the congregation’s South provincial, told Matters India October 24.

Sister Joseph said she had witnessed Sister Marienie organizing the self-help women even when she had been suffering. “She was a mother to so many women whom she empowered,” she added.

Thousands of people from all walks of life, especially the members of her women’s self-help groups, attended Sister Marienie’s funeral.