Mangalore Diocese News

Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 1 : Love is not love which alters in darker moments, it makes our hearts tender to seek the Lord and allow us to bow down and say ‘you are my love, you alone I seek, to you I surrender’.

The Apostolic Carmel inaugurated the Bicentennial Birth Anniversary of its foundress Venerable Mother Veronica on October 1, 2022 at St Ann’s Chapel, Mangaluru. It was on this day, 200 years ago, a star kissed the mother Earth that would bring forth a Congregation – the Apostolic Carmel. This noble child, Sophie Leeves was born to a devout Anglican family, Henry Daniel Leeves and Marina Haultain on October 1, 1823. As per God’s wonderful design, she embraced the Catholic Church, consecrated herself as a sister and hearkened to the call “I want you in Carmel”.

During the Eucharistic sacrifice, the sisters recalled with gratitude, her sacrifice, heroism in facing the challenges, deep trust in God, love for the poor and needy and a fond desire to empower women. Symbolising 200 years with 20 lamps, a lamp for each decade, the sisters and an AC Associate joined the entrance procession along with the celebrant Rev Fr Archibald Gonsalves OCD.

Fr Archibald in his homily connected beautifully the life of Venerable Mother Veronica and St Therese of the Child Jesus whose feast was celebrated today. He highlighted the noble and heroic life of Mother Veronica and urged every Apostolic Carmelite to live her call by rededicating her life to Jesus and His mission.

After the Mass, seven sisters representing North, South, East, West, Sri Lanka, East Africa and Karnataka carried the lighted lamps and placed before the portrait of Venerable Mother Veronica, after which the bicentennial logo was unveiled to the tune of the hymn “I have brought you into the land of Carmel”.

"As we enter the bicentennial year of the birth of our foundress Venerable Mother Veronica, we are called for a transformation to seek the will of God in disturbing situations that prevail today. As we pay homage to her, we seek her intercession and hearken to her call to be the 'keeper of the flame' lit by her and spread it far and wide."

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