Charismatic Sister - Zeena D’Souza

Charismatic Sister - Zeena D’Souza

Mangalore Today News Network

By I J Saldanha Shet

Mangalore, Dec 15, 2013: The Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles is a Religious Congregation, widely known as ’SRA’.  It was granted  full  status by the church  in July 1923 in Vienna. SRA nuns are serving in several countries- Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, India, Philippines, Uganda..... Its Mangalore Province is a large one covering the whole of Karnataka and Goa with over 20 major establishments. Sr Zeena D’Souza SRA is the Provincial, the head of the Mangalore SRA province since January 25, 2011. The sisters she leads offer their services mainly in medical, educational, socio-pastoral fields, more specifically homes for aged, orphanages,  boarding houses, geriatric care, and palliative care, with its social action rapidly expanding and widely recognised by all levels of people.

Sr.Zeena D’Souza SRA, a pleasant, soft spoken, dynamic person hails from Udupi district from a exemplary Konkani Catholic background, after her schooling, were her leadership qualities are remembered by her companions, she joined the SRA congregation in 1982.  She took her first vows in December 1988, her training included  service at  Sandesha, regional communication centre, Mangalore earning a degree in Arts. Her  Final Profession on December 8, 1995 is a red letter day . She went on to bag a  Degree in Theology at Jnana Deep Vidyapeet, Pune (1997-2001) and later accomplished a ’Masters’ in Spirituality and Communication at Gregorian University, Rome in 2006. After her  return to India she served as a full fledged trainer in the SRA religious institute she was  involved in  the administration of the Province and  in 2011 elected as its head. Known for hard work, committed dedication and religious zeal,  along with her band of sisters, aims to bring about needed development to the people of  this area liberating them from bondages of poverty, injustice and many kinds of oppression,  particularly among marginalized women and children. Education, Developmental work, Healing and health ministry and more .....the sisters reach out to the people irrespective of caste, creed and race; enthusing every SRA nun of Mangalore province. Sr Zeena graciously marked her Silver Jubilee (25 yrs) of religious Profession on December 9, 2013, with felicitations from many world wide.

Historical Overview
The pioneering group of Sr Stephanie, and late Srs. Lidwina and Clementine initiated the SRA mission in Karnataka through medical and needle work apostolate, at Kallianpur in 1962. The main building of the Goretti Hospital Kallianpur was put up under the leadership of Sr Aquilina in 1968. During the tenure of Sr Hemma, the first Regional Superior of the South Region a decision was made to found a centrally situated regional and formation house. In 1972 the Novitiate for the South Region was separated from North Region and was temporarily housed at Goretti Convent Kallianpur under the care of Sr Mechtildes. In 1975 the first group of novices made their profession at Kallianpur. The new regional house cum Novitiate was established in Vamanjoor in 1976 with first group making their vows. Today the province has 130 nuns, 5 novices and 16 aspirants.

Further, the bifurcation of the Region into South and Central Provinces sets another mile stone for better functioning and administration. The leadership of our sisters over the years prepared the Central Province for added growth and development.