Mother Eliswa, Kerala's first Catholic nun, to de declared 'Blessed' on Nov 8th

KOCHI: Mother Eliswa, the first nun of the Kerala Latin Congregation and the founder of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites, will be declared blessed on the 8th of this month. The announcement will be made by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, the representative of Pope Leo XIV, at the ceremony to be held at the Basilica in Vallarpadam at 4 pm.

Eliswa, a member of the Ochanthuruth Vaippissery family in Vypin, founded the first nunnery in Kerala in February 1868. The congregation has 1,400 members serving in 223 monasteries in 78 dioceses in eight countries.

Eliswa, who died on July 18, 1913, was declared a servant of God in March 2008 and venerable in November 2023.

As part of the ceremony, a portrait and torch procession will be organised to Vallarpadam, said the Archdiocese of Varappuzha Metropolitan Dr Joseph Kalathiparambil. Auxiliary Bishop of the Verappoly Antony Valunkal, Mother Shaheela, Organising Committee Chairman Dr Augustine Mulloor, and General Convener Fr. Martin Thaiparambil also attended the press conference.