A FOND ADIEU TO OUR BELOVED SR. M. DOLORES PARAMBI.
Revelation chapter 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.” Yes dear Sr. Dolores, the best tribute we the sisters can give you is not grief but GRATITUDE.Dear fathers, sisters and friends; The retrospection into the annals of Sr. Dolores PARAMBI leave us spell bound to see how the wonderful plan of God, carried her on eagle’s wings during her journey in the earthly life and specially in her religious life.
Sr. Dolores PARAMBI was born on 15th March 1927 for the parents of Mr. John PARAMBI and Mrs. Teresa KUTTIKKADAN in a beautiful village called Koratty in Tiruchur. At the very beginning of her childhood, the manner of upbringing her in a pious Syrian Catholic family, put the seed of faith and religious spirit. Being eldest daughter, at the age of 17, the parents were interested to look for a life partner and they found one and almost fixing the date of her engagement. At this juncture, God intervened through the instrumentality of Mother Sophie where she happened to meet the priest uncle of Sr. Dolores during the Principal’s meeting in Chennai. Sr. Sophie in her conversation asked the priest, is there any good candidates for our Congregation’ It was this encounter turned out into a great vocation history of Sr. Dolores.
She entered the Pre-Novitiate on 15th June 1944, at the age of 17. Thereafter, the Novitiate 4th January 1945, 1st Profession 4th January 1947 and Final Profession 4th January 1950. The next two years she studied B.Sc. (HONS) in Annamalai University. The year 1952 – 1970 She was engaged in teaching at Trichy Holy Cross College. Then, she continued the same apostolate from 1970-79 in Nagercoil Holy Cross College. The year1979- 1985 she assumed the responsibility as Principal at a college in Periakulam. The year 1985 – 1988 she was appointed as SIC of Fort community Trichy and correspondent of the Holy Cross College and Fort Holy Cross High School. Now that Sr. Dolores has completed 61 years of age.
At this fullness of her life’s journey, God sent her to Andhra Pradesh. Her first community was at Guntur Little Flower School for teaching Moral Science from 1988 -1990. She was then called back to Tamil Nādu Namakkal Holy Cross to be the Hostel Warden from 1990 -1992. Then she was appointed as a superior at Holy Cross Social Centre Chennai for a year (1992-1993).Seeing her openness to move to any given mission, God chose her to cross the frontier and she was taken to the second biggest continent Africa at Moshi where she was teaching Chemistry at St. James seminary for 3 years (1993 -1996). Again1996 -1998 she worked at MSFS seminary in Morogoro. In the year 1998 -1999 she was appointed as administrator of Nursery school in Morogoro.
In the year 2000 on the Jubilee year of Jesus Christ God gifted us, the Holy Cross in Andhra Mission the precious jewel, Sr. Dolores who lived with us at different communities such as Gudivada, BHEL Hyderabad, Kambhampadu, Nandhirajuthota, Nellore and Tenali, giving her services in the school and helping the formees, especially teaching English and guiding them spiritually. Thus, she was always available for all types of works. She extended her hand in the kitchen preparing delicious food and working in the garden enhancing the beauty of creation, and so on…
She was always eager to read the word of God during the Liturgical services. She spent most of her time praying Rosary, personal prayer in the chapel, beside the community hours of prayer. Sr. Dolores was very amazing! We see her all the time engaged in reading and taking note of everything she read. She never wasted any of her time and utilized it to the best of her calibre.
She made her living room a heaven like, placing a small alter where she kept all the saints, statue of Jesus, Mother Mary, Arch Angels, Crucifix and the photos of her Parents, Mother Claudine etc… All these speak volumes of her devotion and spiritual power. Her room was always neat and tidy. To say the truth, and to say the fact, she was a POWER HOUSE of our Tenali Province. Dear Sr. Dolores, we strongly believe that you will continue to be the POWER HOUSE not only for our Province but also to the entire Congregation.
In the year 2018 she had a fall, from then on, she was confined to bed and wheel chair but participating in all community activities and taking normal food. She was given very good care by the sisters of the Tenali Provincialate. For one month, she lost her appetite and took semi solid food. Since a week her in take was very poor. Seeing her critical condition, on 22nd April 2023 she was given the Last Sacrament. On 27th April around 10 pm she was given a little milk and by11.30 pm Sr, Shirly providentially visited her and found her struggling for breath and she called for Srs. Tresa Kalapurayil and Helen Daisy. Sisters watched her and observed that she breathed periodically and on 27th April 2023 at 11.53 pm in the presence of three sisters, Sr.Dolores took her last breath peacefully and took a flight to heaven to meet her beloved.
The following words are from her personal diary:
1.“The depth living of my charism consist in following Jesus my Lord in His agony where there is also the resurrection and total surrender, intensifying the contact with Jesus in His loneliness”
2.“No work is too hard for me, when I am working under OMEGA power”
Dear Sr. Dolores, your life certified your spiritual learning from the very life you lived. This legacy you leave behind will be the lesson for every one of your sisters. We never expected this sudden deterioration. Whenever we visited you, you enquired about each of us. Why such sudden change came into you? How is that you gave up your strong will power? What made you to say good bye so soon? We will certainly miss you and your conversations. For the past 4 ½ years whenever we cross the front of your room you welcomed us to the room, and we never left Provincialate without visiting you. Your sweet smile, lovely English accent, your life style, your love and your friendship everything we will miss. You are an edifying soul. You will remain in our hearts until we meet in heaven.
With Love and affection,
Sisters of Tenali Province.