TURA: A pioneering missionary from the Missionaries of Christ Jesus, Sister Mary Joseph, who began social work in the Khasi and Garo Hills decades ago, going even further into China to spread the teachings of Christ is no more.
Sr Mary Joseph passed away at Nazareth Hospital in Shillong at 9:15 pm on Monday. She was 77. Her funeral is slated for Wednesday at 4 pm at the Catholic cemetery in Laitumkhrah, Shillong.
“She was a zealous pioneering missionary for whom nothing was an obstacle when it came to share God’s love and message of salvation. With tremendous trust in God she daringly opened new paths and ways for the Good News of Jesus Christ,” recalled her close friend Sister Marline Pinto who worked closely with her in the Khasi and Garo Hills region for many years.
A missionary who successfully completed her nursing profession, Sister Mary Joseph excelled in pastoral work and social care.
Her missionary works led her into the then remote West Khasi Hills region, neighbouring Assam, distant Arunachal Pradesh where she helped in spreading the good news of Christ. Her missionary works led her to Spain and the communist country China too.
But it was her work with women and children in Garo Hills that stood out the most during her missionary life.
She started a school for girls and their mothers at Balamagre village of Gambegre block in West Garo Hills, two and a half decades ago. The unique aspect of the Balamagre centre was that while children were given education, their mothers were put into the literacy program and also provided with vocational training to make them self-reliant.
The school has since grown in strength with large number of women passing out and beginning their own business ventures. It celebrated it’s silver jubilee last year.
She also taught the inmates of Leper Colony in Tura the art of chalk making. For her work with Balamagre centre, Sr. Mary Joseph was given a national award by the Union government in 2001.
In recent times poor health confined her to St Xaviers Convent in Tura and later at Nirmali in Shillong.
