Sister Mary Shaija ND 6726 PDF Download
Mary Pulikyil
Our Lady of the Assumption Province, Patna, India
Date and Place of Birth: August 30, 1952 Elanji, Kottayam, Kerala, India
Date and Place of Profession: December 19, 1974 Patna, Bihar, India
Date and Place of Death: September 12, 2024 Ambikapur, Chattisgarh, India
Date and Place of Burial: September 14, 2024 Notre Dame Convent Cemetery, Patna
Mary was the second child of Mr. Devasia Pulikyil and Theresia Pulikyil. She was baptized at St. Mary’s Parish Church, Elanji on September 5th, 1952, and given the name “Mary”. She spent a happy childhood in her faith-filled family with her two Sisters and four brothers. Mary received her first Holy Communion on May 11th, 1959 and confirmation on June 4th, 1967.
Regarding her vocation to religious life, Sister writes in her autobiography: “When I was 13 years old, I felt an inspiration and a strong desire to dedicate my life to God”. She was accepted as a candidate of Notre Dame in June 1969. During the second year of her candidacy, Mary was sent to take the Montessori Teachers’ Training Course in Hyderabad along with two other candidates. She entered the postulancy in June 1972 as a qualified Montessori teacher. She wrote in her autobiography, “My hope and trust were that I would become a true and faithful servant of God following the example of Jesus.” Mary was invested on January 3, 1973 and received the name Sister Mary Shaija. She made her vows on December 19th, 1974 and Final profession on December 19th, 1981.
Sister Mary Shaija did her graduation from Mt. Carmel College, Bangalore, and her post-graduation from Mysore University. Sister was well prepared with a broad education for her years of apostolic mission in the field of education. Sister has served as Directress of our Montessori School, as teacher in High Schools, Principal of Higher Secondary Schools, and finally as Education Coordinator of the Province.
In 1995, Sister Mary Shaija volunteered to be a missionary in Tanzania, East Africa, where she served as teacher, principal, and headmistress at a number of schools. After 20 years of missionary service in Tanzania, Sister Mary Shaija returned to India in 2015, where she continued her ministry in education.
Sister Mary Shaija was in Jurodanr in the State of Chhattisgarh on school supervision during the first week of September, 2024, when she felt minor discomfort and nausea. Sister Mary Joyce, our sister nurse, gave her first aid. Sister Mary Shaija gradually became unconscious. She was taken to Ambikapur Holy Cross Hospital, two hours road travel from Jurodanr. Medical investigations confirmed severe cerebral haemorrhage. Sister was transferred to the Neurological Hospital in the area, where a surgery was performed. Sister Mary Shaija’s condition became critical and she was put on ventilator. Our Sisters from the communities in Jurodanr and Musgutri reached out to Sister Mary Shaija in every way possible. Sister Mary Alice, our Provincial Superior, and Sister Mary Ruby, the Assistant Provincial, arrived the hospital the following morning, when Sister Mary Shaija passed away into her eternal home. Her motto was to live for God all the time. Sister Mary Shaija lived with a passion for the mission of Jesus till her last breath.
As we mourn the loss of our dear Sister Mary Shaija, a very energetic and vibrant member of our Congregation, we raise our hearts to thank the good God for the gift of Sister to our province and to the Church. Her passion for Christ and service to the poor was remarkable. For the past 50 years, Sister Mary Shaija enriched the world around her with her exemplary skills in education with pastoral care and compassion.
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