Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima

Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima, the Foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa  (CSST), was born on January 29, 1858 to Peter D’Lima and Mary D’Lima at George Town in Madras, India.She was christened as Mary Grace and was nurtured by loving parents in a religious atmosphere. She educated  in  Presentation convent school  at George Town, Madras, where she received quality education. On completion of the General Education in 1875 she joined the staff of St. Xavier’s Free School,  where her father was the Headmaster.

In 1879 she took charge of St. Joseph School, in Alleppey, Kerala under the leadership of Fr. Candidus OCD, the Parish Priest of Mt. Carmel Church. she expressed her desire to become a religious and In 1882 enters Postulancy under the guidance of the carmeilte fathers. In 1885 she was professed and took the name as Sr. Teresa of St. Rose of Lima. In  1879 she took charge  of St. Joseph School, in Alleppey, Kerala under the leadership of Fr. Candidus OCD, the Parish Priest of Mt. Carmel Church.

Mother Teresa arrives in Ernakulam, Kerala, at the behest of Rt. Rev. Leonard Mellano, Archbisoph of Verapoly to start an English medium school for girls and also found a Convent for religious Sisters. The Congregation was founded on April 24, 1887. In a short of period of 15 years, Mother Teresa established her convent on a sure foundation and launched out into various apostolate. she started 2 schools-in English and the Vernacular; an Industrial school, a boarding school, an Orphanage, a ‘Magdalene Home’ for unwed mothers, Home for the aged, a Dispensary, Family Apostolate, engaged in Famine -Relief Programme, Prison Ministry etc.

Mother Teresa led a God-centred life. She worked whole-heartedly in the service of the poor and the illiterate. The life of “A Great Woman and Religious” as she was considered by all in Ernakulam and even in Europe was abruptly cut short in a train accident at Mangapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh while travelling to Bombay on September 12, 1902. Mother Teresa’s conduct in every circumstance of her life was remarkably spiritual. The Eucharistic presence of our Lord gave her hope in “troubled times” – a therapeutic remedy for her troubled mind: The values that nurtured our Foundress’ prayer life was her Faith, the Will of God and Trust in the Providence of God Our Foundress was A Visionary and A Missionary. She goaded her sisters on to a greater commitment: “Forward sisters, forward, and the nuns must take the lead”. Her work is being continued by us in 122 convents spread all over India and abroad.