By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Aug 19, 2025: Sister Lismy Parayil, “the camera nun of India,” has won the James Alberione Award for her outstanding contributions to media production.
The Indian Catholic Press Association, the oldest Catholic media forum in Asia, announced on August 19 that it has selected the Carmelite of Mary Immaculate nun for the annual award, set up in memory of the founder of the Pauline Family.
“With a prolific portfolio that includes over 25 short films, 250 video albums, 150 documentaries, and 100 plus interviews, Sr Lismy has made a remarkable impact in the field of media ministry,” says a statement issued by Ignatius Gonsalves, the second layman to head the 63-year-old association of India’s Catholic journalists, newspapers, periodicals, and other media outlets.
The ICPA statement says the works of Sister Lismy, as she is popularly known, are “deeply rooted in social issues, aiming to inspire moral living and foster a sense of responsibility among viewers. This recognition celebrates her exceptional contribution to raising awareness of social morality through impactful and thought-provoking cinematic storytelling.”
The award will be conferred on the 40-year-old nun on September 20, during the 30th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organized by the ICPA, at Pune, western India.
Earlier, Sister Lismy was featured in the “India Book of Records” — the highest recognition in visual media in the country. She was the first Catholic nun to get the honor. A panel of chief editors of record books from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam, selected her.
Sister Lismy’s short film, “Pidakozhi,” focuses on the journey of a young girl, inspired by real-life experiences of an orphan girl.
The film calls for empathy and collective action against violence and delivers a powerful message about resilience, solidarity, and the transformative strength of community support, the Catholic press association points out.
One of her outstanding videos was on “Thrissur Pooram” (a religious and cultural festival in Kerala’s Thrissur town), a major Hindu cultural festival in India.
“Demonstrating both creativity and technical expertise, Sr Lismy successfully constructed a fully functional digital recording studio without the assistance of an engineer. She has also been instrumental in setting up media units in various religious congregations,” the ICPA states.
Her digital platforms, including Nirmala Media TSR, the Camera Nun YouTube Channel, and related social media pages, have collectively garnered over 8.3 million views worldwide, delivering uplifting and inspirational content to audiences across all age groups.
Sister Lismy has “established herself as a passionate advocate for social change through media. Her unique ability to blend artistry with advocacy has earned her accolades in esteemed circles,” the press association says.
In 2025, she was invited to participate as a panellist at the Global Communication Gathering in Vatican City, where she was the only representative from India to receive this honor.
In a 2013 interview with the Global Sisters Report, Sister Lismy said the camera for her is a tool to assert her nunhood, vocation and mission.
“I look at the world through my camera lens and tell the stories of Jesus, Christian values and messages. My congregation has recognized the new apostolate’s potential to reach out to a larger population; especially young people,” she explained.
The James Alberione Award is instituted by the Society of St Paul, in collaboration with the ICPA to perpetuate the memory of Blessed James Alberione, who was known as a “media marvel” of his time.
The award honors individuals who have excelled in using media to promote human values and foster positive change in society.