Sister Mary Sujata

Sister Mary Sujata               ND 5589                PDF Download

Leelamma Josef THARAPPEL

Our Lady of the Visitation Province, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Date and Place of Birth: April 9th, 1938 Chemmalamattam, Kerala, India
Date and Pace of Profession: January 6th, 1964 Jamalpur, Bihar, India
Date and Place of Death: September 5th, 2018 Provincial House, Bangalore
Date and Place of Funeral: September 6th, 2018 Provincial House, Bangalore
Date and Place Burial: September 6th, 2018 St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Bangalore

Leelamma was the daughter of Joseph and Mariam Tharappel. She was baptized on April 13th, 1938, and christened as Juliana. Leelamma was the 10th of the 11 Tharappel children. At the age of 4 she began her schooling and she received her 1st Holy Communion on Jan. 1st 1947 and confirmation on Feb, 15th 1949.
Leelamma felt God calling her to be a missionary when she was in class 9. About that time she had heard about the Sisters of Notre Dame from her uncle, Fr. George Kappamoottil, S.J. who was a missionary in Patna. Her cousin, Annamma who had gone to join the Sisters of Notre Dame also encouraged her desire to become a Notre Dame Sister. In 1960 Leelamma made up her mind to leave her home and dear ones at Chemmalamattam and make Notre Dame her new and permanent home. Her journey in Notre Dame was eventful yet joyous. On June19, 1962, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Leelamma entered the Novitiate, taking Sister Mary Sujata as her new name, her name day being Christmas.
After her training, she served at several Notre Dame Schools, specially as a Teacher of Mathematics until 1975, and indeed she was a great teacher. But seeing her innate potential for leadership, she was appointed as Candidate Director, and as Local Superior in Mysore, in Darjeeling, and in Bangalore over a period of 15 years. After this, she served as principal of the junior sections in Notre Dame Academy, Patna, and Sophia High School, Bangalore, for another 15 years. These years of ministry as a young religious point toward the multifaceted person that she was and her loving loyalty to her mission.
In community, Sr. M. Sujata was an effervescent, joy-giving member and an inspiring animator. Being a perfectionist, her work would be neat and timely, just like her appearance and her dealings would be fair and pleasant. Sr. M. Sujata was a born singer and having a very keen ear for music, she would sing and play, teaching the younger sisters this precious art. Sr. M. Sujata trained herself to be deeply prayerful and live devotedly the Notre Dame spirit of joyful simplicity in her personal life. She was content and unassuming, hospitable, respectful and gentle.
In 2014, a rare lung disease was diagnosed which would slowly steal away her vibrant health. In varying stages, her health deteriorated and she was completely confined to bed for the past 6 months. Yet there was no complaint nor murmur from Sister’s lips except the name of her mother and of our Blessed Mother throughout her exemplary suffering. On the September 5th at 12.00 am. Sr. M. Sujata breathed her last in the presence of her sisters in the Provincial House Community.
Sisters and colleagues remember her as a great and inspiring teacher and say about her: “Sister Mary Sujata reached out, she touched as a human being and she transformed lives.”
Thank you, dear Sister Sujata, for setting ablaze a path of dedication, loyalty and commitment for us to follow. We believe you are now enjoying the beatific vision of your Master, Jesus, and Our Lady and all the saints and angels in heaven. Intercede for us that we may emulate your righteous life. May you rest in peace.