Cardinal Sebastian Francis to Preside at Beatification of India’s Mother Eliswa Vakayil

Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, Malaysia, will lead the beatification ceremony of Mother Eliswa Vakayil of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a 19th-century nun from Kerala renowned for her pioneering role in women’s religious life and lifelong dedication to the poor. 

The historic event, to be held in Kerala on November 8, celebrates the founder of the Congregation of the Teresian Carmelites (CTC), established in 1866 as India’s first indigenous congregation for women. The beatification coincides with the Jubilee Year of Hope, echoing Mother Eliswa’s spirituality centred on simplicity, compassion, and trust in God. 

In a pastoral message ahead of the ceremony, Cardinal Sebastian described the honour as a “sacred privilege to represent His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, and preside at this joyous celebration.” He added, “Heaven rejoices with us for another woman of God for the Universal Church and for all humanity.” 

Cardinal Sebastian praised Mother Eliswa as “a woman of great substance, rooted in faith, guided by conviction, and generous in love,” noting her life as a timeless testimony of passion for Christ and compassion for humanity. Quoting Mother Eliswa’s own words, he emphasised: “The only subject of our desire should be the three letters: GOD. Humanity needs to return to the primacy of God, above creation, humanity, and history.” 

Born in 1831, Mother Eliswa’s founding of the Teresian Carmelites marked a revolutionary moment in Indian religious history, as local women were entrusted with leading a congregation. Her congregation has since expanded its mission beyond Kerala, establishing schools, hospitals, and orphanages across India and abroad. 

“Her simplicity and authenticity, drawn from a heart desiring to love and serve God in ordinary ways, remain a model for us today,” Cardinal Sebastian said. He highlighted her holistic vision of service: “Passion for Christ includes love for the Eucharist, Mary, and the Rosary; compassion for humanity includes children, the sick, and the powerless, excluding no one.” 

Cardinal Sebastian’s role underscores the historical and spiritual links between the Catholic communities of India and Malaysia. “Mother Eliswa’s witness reminds us that holiness knows no geographic boundaries,” he said. 

For the Malaysian prelate, who has led Penang Diocese since 2012 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2023, the beatification also represents a personal spiritual milestone. “I am delighted to conclude my personal pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Hope at her tomb, to contemplate and celebrate her life towards sainthood, in the land of my ancestors,” he reflected. 

Closing his message, Cardinal Sebastian offered a prayer of gratitude: “With palms folded in prayer, we praise and thank God for the gift of Mother Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary to all of us. To God be all Glory and Praise.”

As the Church in India and beyond celebrates this milestone, Mother Eliswa’s enduring message resonates across generations: ‘Passion for Christ and Compassion for Humanity,' he concluded.