New head of Daughters of Charity of North India province installed

On April 20, 2024, the Daughters of Charity of North India Province installed their new head at the Berhampur Provincial House in Odisha.

Father Jose Manjali, CM, the Spiritual Director of Daughters of Charity, presided over the installation ceremony, which included about 200 Sisters of Charity and 30 CM priests.

“You should be a listening leader, ready for the service of the poor, needy, and underprivileged,” said Manjali in his homily.

He further emphasized that "Jesus, being a good shepherd, always builds up a good relationship with the sheep, so you may build up a good relationship with the people." 

Teresa Parakel, DC, the new province of Daughters of Charity, said, "Despite my advanced age, God has entrusted me with the responsibility. God, in His mercy, has chosen me despite my weakness, inability, and limitations." 

"I believe God's call is His way of showing me His mercy and assuring me of His grace," she said. "Let not my brokenness hinder my animating role, as well as the growth of our community and His ministry."

Sister Teresa stated that she would place great trust in the peace and mercy of God and solicit the prayers and support of her fellow congregation members.

She expressed her thankfulness to outgoing provincial Martha Pradhan, DC, who led the province for six years.

Leena Korado, DC, the provincial secretary, said that  sister Martha Pradhan, DC, is a "person of high thinking and simple living; an able administrator with great commitment, dedication, honesty, and sincerity; a person of a loving and compassionate heart." 

The French priest founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633, along with Saint Louise De Marillack, a widow. Their members make annual vows throughout their lives that make them free to leave the congregation without obtaining the church's permission. They dedicate themselves to serving Christ among the poor through both corporal and spiritual acts of mercy.

They manage hospitals, orphanages, old-age homes and educational institutions. They are also involved in the church's pastoral activities.

Sister Teresa was born on July 27th, 1953, to Poulose and Mariam Parakel, in the Trichur district of Kerala. On March 15, 1979, she entered the seminary at Chalakudy in Trichur. She embarked on her first mission just a year later, on August 15th, 1980.

She completes 45 years as the Daughter of Charity. She served as administrator in Bishop James's Memorial Hospital, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal State, for seven years; six years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, central Africa; and thirty-two years of service in Odisha's St. Vincent Charity Centre in Balasore; Marillac Sadan in Mohitnagar; Nirmala House in Aligonda; Marillac Niketan in Gunupur; and Daya Ashram in Cuttack.

In 2011, Sr. Teresa traveled to the Congo on Mission Ad Gentes. She was appointed councillor and assistant provincial in 2018, after returning from abroad in 2016.

The congregation has 60 provinces worldwide, and 179 members work in 90 countries. The congregation arrived in India in 1940.

The North India province has 232 members, who live in 42 houses and work in 14 dioceses in 10 Indian states. -Purushottam Nayak