Cloistered Carmel Sacred Heart Monastery
Kankanady,
Mangalore – 575 002
Cloistered Carmel at Kankanady, Mangalore has the distinction of being the first Teresian Cloistered Carmel on Indian soil.
Saint Mariam Baouardy was of Lebanese origin by birth was born on January 5,1846 in upper Galilee. She was orphaned even before she was three and was adopted by relatives. The Carmelite nuns out of love and concern and admiration gave her work and shelter and whatever education that was possible.
Bishop of Mangalore – Marie Ephrem OCD of France (Who died in 1873, and is buried in Rosario Cathedral Mangalore), on his visit there expressed his desire to have a group of nuns come over and start work on the West Coast of India. MARIAM BAOURDY was the youngest chosen for this mission. Destiny thus directed her to India.
On November 19,1870 the courageous group after a gruelling journey of near 100 days landed at Mangalore port, via Madras and Calicut.
On their arrival in Mangalore the discalced nuns were accommodated at St. Ann’s Convent near Holy Rosary Cathedral Mangalore where they lived for nearly twelve years. In 1879 the site at Kankanady was purchased and foundation stone was laid for setting up the Sacred Heart Cloistered Carmel Convent at Kankanady. The new Carmel was inaugurated on March 19, 1882 to coincide with the feast of St Joseph. This Cloistered Carmel at Kankanady, Mangalore has the distinction of being the first Teresian Cloistered Carmel on Indian soil. Mariam Bouardy, who is better known as Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified, became the first novice of the cloistered nuns on the Indian soil. The Cloistered Carmel of Mangalore dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus, has been responsible for establishing the convents of Carmel of Shembaganur, Carmel of Triruchinapally and Carmel of Hassan.
Mariam took the name of “Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified” and was often referred to as the ’Little Arab’ among her community. Comparing her life with that of St (Sr) Alphonsa of Kerala; many similarities can be drawn. In keeping with her vows, she was called upon to return to France and left Mangalore on September 23,1972. After a few years of exemplary holy life in Pau,France; she was sent to her mother land where she laboured hard to establish a large convent in Bethlahem, the place of Christs birth. She died at the young age of 33 on August 26,1879. The important convent she founded in Bethlahem, today reflects her greatness.
Veneration:
The cause of canonization started on 18 May 1927 and would culminate with the decree of heroic virtue on 27 November 1981. Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 13 November 1983 and was canonized on 17 May 2015 by Pope Francis. She became the second Greek Catholic to be canonized a saint of the Catholic Church, the first being Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych in 1867.
Text Source: bellevision.com & daijiworld.com
