SR. BEATRICE PAZHAYATTIL

Theresa was born on December 21, 1917 at Ashtamichira, Trichur District, Kerala. Being very brilliant and gifted, she excelled in her studies. Desirous that she becomes a doctor, her parents sent her to Ghosha hospital, Visakhapatnam for clinical experience. God’s ways are indeed mysterious. The miracle happened as she accompanied Sr. Louise SAS to attend a funeral service of one of the Sisters who died untimely in Bheemunipatnam. It is at this juncture that the Lord’s call came to our beloved Sr. Beatrice and touched her inner most being. The seed that sprouted at that moment in her heart, gripped her so much that she wanted to join this Congregation. In spite of all the oppositions and hurdles, which glared at her from different angles, she dared to venture into the unknown future. She became the first Indian missionary of our Society and her joining paved the way for a number of young girls including her own sister Rose Mary.

Being the first flower of St. Ann’s Society on Indian soil, she bloomed as a competent teacher from 1939 to 1964. She was efficient and well versed in moulding the youngsters and thus, she was appointed novice mistress from 1964 to 1983. Her orderly and systematic, well-disciplined life mirrored in all aspects of her life especially in her intimate union with the Lord, in her leadership and her generous service to the poor. Sisters looked up to her always as a role model. The initial enthusiasm, zeal and cheerfulness were very much alive even in the evening of her life. At the ripe old age of 89, in the praying company of her dear Sisters, she breathed her last on April 4, 2006.