A BIOGRAPHY OF MOTHER MARY BERNADETTE PRASAD KISPOTTA (1878 - 1961) THE FOUNDRESS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. ANNE, RANCHI

The Early Years Khrist Anandit Ruth Kispotta, later known as Mary Bernadette, was born to Mr. Puran Prasad Kispotta and Paulina at Sargaon (Mander parish), in a Lutheran Adivasi family, 32 kms from Ranchi, the Capital of state, , on 2 June, 1878. Puran Prasad Kispotta was a Mukhtar at the court. Unfortunately her mother died shortly after giving birth. Khrist Anandit Ruth being too small, her Father Puran Prasad married again to provide her a mother to take care of her. Ruth was about two years old when her step mother gave birth to Sushila on 28 September 1881. In 1859, the Belgian Jesuits missionaries had come to and in 1869, they came to what is now part of Chotanagpur with a mission at Chaibasa among Adivasis. Mr. Puran Prasad got to know the Servant of God Fr. Constant Lievens, S.J. and worked with him in the court regarding the land matter of Adivasis of Chotangpur . Fr. Lievens started his mission in 1885. Early life of Khrist Anandit Ruth Puran Prasad took Ruth to Ranchi at the age of 5. There she lived in the house of the Pastor who along with his wife treated her like their own child. There she studied in Bethesda School of Lutheran Mission. Later she stayed in the Boarding. Her Father Mr. Puran Prasad became a catholic and was renamed Paulus. This was a great shock for Ruth. Khrist Anandit was a staunch Lutheran. She was the last person in the family to accept the Catholic Faith. On March 19, 1890 four Loreto Sisters, Mother Mary Gonzaga, the Superior, Mother Mary Patricia, Mother Mary Aloysia and Sister Teresa came from to Ranchi. They opened ‘a boarding school for girls. On 2nd June 1890 Ruth was one of the first to come to the convent school in Ranchi. One day during the Holy Mass she felt attracted by the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and was drawn towards Catholic faith. She found what she was searching for. She began to study the Catholic beliefs with utmost eagerness and joy. She was baptized on 31st July 1890, in the , and was given new name, Mary Bernadette. The Vocation Four girls, Mary Bernadette, her stepsister Cecilia, cousin Veronica and Mary were together in the ‘boarding school.’ Bernadette was the second youngest but intellectually by far the most advanced. She was inspired by the life and service of the Loreto Sisters The girls asked themselves, 'If the Loreto Sisters could leave their parents, dear ones and country, why could they not do the same for the well being of their own people?' While the girls were still in school, marriage proposals were brought by their family members and even by the Fathers and the Loreto Sisters who felt it was time for them to settle down in life. Very firmly Mary Bernadette refused to marry and so did Cecilia and Veronica. When all efforts failed to dissuade them, the Fathers complained to the Archbishop of Kolkata, Most Rev. Paul Goethals S.J. According to them the Catholic faith was just taking root in Chotanagpur. Their foolish decision of not getting married and remaining virgins would hamper mission work. They felt that people would not send their daughters to school fearing that they might follow the same path. The Archbishop, who was an ardent missionary, soon issued an order that all the girls who did not want to marry must be sent away from the school. The Sisters called the girls and explained to them the Archbishop’s edict, blessed them lovingly and sent them away

1 from the school. Poor Bernadette felt aghast and wept uncontrollably. The other two girls Cecilia and Veronica were also sent away. All of them went home weeping and sobbing. At home in Sargaon the situation was no different. Mary Bernadette tried to convince her father through a letter that she would not marry. But he feigned ignorance of her desire and ordered jewellery and ornaments to deviate her from her path. But she refused to be cowed down as she knew that it would ruin her soul and make her worldly. Now Bernadette, Cecilia, Veronica and Mary expressed their desire to become nuns to Father John Desmet S.J. He helped them a lot and kept encouraging them in their resolve. Also a few days later Sister Teresa, the Superior of the Ranchi Loreto community, together with Fr. Desmet encouraged them with talks, works and counsels. After sometime Fr. Chrysanthus Sapart S.J. and Fr. Louis Hagenbeek S.J. also explained to them about the religious life. Meanwhile, Fr. John Desmet, Rev. Sr. Provincial, Mary Gonzaga and Sr. Mary Teresa made representations to the Archbishop requesting him to allow the four girls to continue in the School and He himself could ascertain whether they had a vocation from Jesus or not. The Archbishop wrote to the Rector of the Manresa Jesuit House to readmit them to school. When the Archbishop’s decision was conveyed to them by Father Rector, the four were exceedingly happy. The Sisters now began to look after them more carefully. They were assigned various chores in the convent and the school like – teaching other girls, sweeping and cleaning the church, arranging the altar, working in the kitchen and the storeroom, looking after the sick, doing the night vigil and washing the dead bodies and preparing them for burial etc. The Challenges and the Ordeal The relatives of the girls found three rich and educated but staunch Protestant bachelors for Bernadette, Cecilia, and Veronica . They tried to convince the Fr. Rector at Manresa House in Ranchi and also made a representation to the Archbishop of Kolkata Most Rev. Paul Goethals S.J. seeking his permission for a mixed marriage. It was falsely alleged that the girls had chosen Protestant grooms for themselves of their own free will and consent. Fr. Rector of Manresa House with help of the Sisters, found out that it was a made up story and a blatant lie to get them married. Fr. Rector explained everything to the Archbishop in a letter. Yet on the appointed day all preparations were made to have the marriage ceremony of the three of them at their house at Siromtoli. Puran Prasad who went School to bring his daughters did not accompany them home but gave them strict orders to go home directly. As they arrived home people began to pressurize and even threaten them for the mixed marriage lying to them that even the Archbishop and Fathers had agreed. But the girls remained strong in their decision. Mr. Puran Prasad was enraged and ordered to separate the three. Veronica and Cecilia were locked up in someone’s house, away for Bernadette who it was alleged was the overbearing bad influence. Bernadette was presented before the guests gathered and when all efforts at convincing her and coercing her failed, one of her cousins dragged, and began to physically beat her. Her father could not bear this anymore and he began to cry uncontrollably. He ruled the day his daughter was born and wished she had died as a small baby along with her mother. He threatened to kill her with his own hands and then kill himself. Mary Bernadette stood firm in her decision. Thereafter Kiran Prasad rushed out with a sword in his hand and advanced towards her. He was stopped by the crowd and Mary Bernadette fled to safety to the convent. She entered the church and fell on her knees before the Blessed Sacrament, crying profusely and thanking the Lord Jesus immensely for all the protection she had received from Him. She also thanked the Lord for the victory she was experiencing through the prayers of the Fathers, Sisters, girls of the school and people of goodwill.

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In a long letter to the Sisters, next morning, her people at home threatened her and demanded that she return her clothes. Bernadette returned the clothes along with a loving letter in which she had thanked her parents for their love and good deeds done to her. Cholera And Famine - Foundation of The Daughters Of St. Anne There spread in the country a terrible famine and cholera epidemics in 1895 and 1896 leading to much death and suffering. Many poor people were dying everywhere – in towns, villages, fields, plains, roads and drains. Fathers and Sisters involved themselves serving the afflicted. Bernadette and her three companions whole heartedly joined the Sisters. In October 1896 they said the final goodbye to their parents. They were determined to stay on in the convent, obeying the Sisters and doing everything they asked them to do. As time passed by many Fathers, Sisters and others began to see and understand what had happened. They came to the Archbishop on their own as witnesses and pleaded to him that the three of them be inducted to the religious life without delay. The most ardent in this matter were Rev. Father Desmet, Mother Provincial of the Loretos from Kolkata, Rev. Mother Mary Gonzaga Joynt and the Superior of Ranchi, Mother Mary Teresa Bonner. His Grace Most Rev. Paul Goethals the Archbishop of Kolkata agreed and gave permission to the foundation of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne. Bernadette, Cecilia, Veronica and Mary were admitted as the first postulants in the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne on 26th July 1897. They adopted Indian of dressing and living because of the intense poverty in the country. They insisted on this because if they faced any problem, like a religious persecution, as it happened in other countries, then they would be able to continue to live among their own people. So they chose Sari for their Religious Dress. His Grace the Archbishop approved it and also wrote the rules for the Daughters of St. Anne. He then asked Rev. Father John Desmet S.J. to translate the same into simple Hindi. In the investiture of 6th February 1899, the four of them were adorned in the dress of the Congregation. His Grace, Most Rev. Paul Goethals presided over the first investiture ceremony of the Daughters of St. Anne. Those vested were Mary Bernadette, Cecilia, Veronica and Mary. The four novices made their first profession on Monday, the 8th April 1901, after a novitiate of two years and two months under Rev. Mother Mary Imelda Mc Loughlin IBVM. The four renewed their vows on 26th July 1901 and on completion of three years of temporary vows on 26th July 1903, they took their final vows on 26th July 1906. On 1, November 1903, Sr. Mary Bernadette was elected Religious Superior of the Daughters of St. Anne for a period of three years. and her term would be for three years. So on all saints Day Sister Bernadette was elected Superior and the authorities approved the choice. She was re-elected for another term of three years on 21st November 1915. A peaceful death During the last days of her sickness she was in St. Anne’s Mother House, Purulia Road (at present Camil Bulcke Path), Ranchi. As she was breathing her last, all Sisters of Mother House community and first year novices assembled together around her death –bed. With folded hands they prayed for her peaceful journey to heaven. She breathed her last on 16th April 1961 and slept forever in the lap of her Beloved. She was ‘ablaze with the love of Jesus’. Through her love, prayer, sacrifice and mortification nourished the Congregation. She gave her total life in spreading the Kingdom of God. During the period of her life time there were 56 Convents. She served the Congregation for 64 years.

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