My dear Sisters

Praised be Jesus!

Today, we celebrate a remarkable woman of faith and trust—Mother Mary Elias. On this auspicious occasion, I would like to share some reflections in her honour. Mother Mary Elias was a woman of great faith. Guided by trust in her Crucified Master, she journeyed through unfamiliar paths with courage. Through all the twists and turns of her life, she remained steadfast in her commitment to the dreams, vision, and mission of her beloved Foundress, Venerable Mother Veronica.

One of the most defining qualities of Mother Elias was her capacity to CARE. She shared a deep connection and enduring love for Venerable Mother Mary Veronica our beloved Foundress and never wavered from the mission entrusted to her. This Irish Lily, inspired by Mother Veronica, dedicated herself to caring for the Third Order Regular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which would later evolve into the Congregation of the Carmelite Religious (CCR).

Let us reflect on the essence of the word CARE by exploring each letter.

C – Compassion – Mother Mary Elias embodied compassion throughout her life, dedicating herself to the poor and marginalized in Kerala. She founded St. Joseph’s Orphanage at Trivandrum to provide a loving home for orphans and tirelessly initiated charitable efforts to support them. Even in her later years at Norcia, she cared for orphans with maternal tenderness, exemplifying compassion until her final days.

A – AMIABLE- Mother Mary Elias maintained a warm and cordial rapport with everyone, transcending barriers of caste, creed, or social status. She gave due respect to the members of the community, bishops, priests, politicians, social leaders, parents and students and maintained a friendly relationship with them all. Mother Mary Elias of Jesus could practise it easily because her prayer and contemplation were very much personal. It was a process of observation, reflection, and application of the insights to life and mission. (My Irish Lily- A biography by Sr.Phyllis T.Peter CCR)

R – RESPONSIBLE – Mother Mary Elias was a responsible and devoted leader, carrying out every duty with unwavering commitment. Guided by wisdom and compassion, she ensured the wellbeing of orphans and marginalized communities. Even as the Congregation faced a decline in vocations, she travelled the world despite her age and ill health, driven by her deep conviction to serve and nurture others with love.

E- EMPOWERING – Mother Mary Elias was a visionary missionary who embodied empowerment and inspired the sisters under her to become capable leaders. She fostered an environment of trust, enabling them to take initiative and embrace responsibility. Her leadership was not about control but about cultivating the potential within others, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and spiritual strength needed to guide the Congregation toward the vision of our beloved Venerable Foundress.

Let us take a moment to reflect on two essential forms of care:

Care for ourselves- It is essential to nurture our inner selves—tending to our spirit, healing our wounds, and embracing our brokenness—so that we may become whole and fully equipped to care for others. Self-care is not a luxury but a necessity, especially in today’s fast-paced world. Many of us become so consumed by work that we neglect our wellbeing, leaving little or no time to care for our physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health. We often prioritize doing over being, forgetting that our actions flow best from a place of inner balance and peace. When we make space to rest, reflect, and recharge, we reconnect with ourselves and with God, regaining the strength to serve others joyfully.
Care for our relationship with God – Cultivating a deep connection with the Source of Life, the One who lovingly sustains us. By surrendering our worries into His hands and embracing His loving care, we become free and ready to take on the mission He entrusts to us. With hearts anchored in faith and minds open to His guidance, we are better equipped to respond to His call, serving others and fulfilling our purpose with renewed strength and clarity. Cultivating this connection not only deepens our trust in Him but also transforms our lives into instruments of His love and grace.

My dear Sisters, as we reflect on the life and legacy of our beloved Co-Foundress, let us strive to embody her spirit of CARE within our communities. We are the daughters of a valiant woman who laboured tirelessly to bring our Congregation to fruition. Inspired by her example, may we grow in compassion and kindness toward one another and extend the same to all we encounter. Let us express genuine love to our sisters, creating a haven of unity and peace, the very community Mother Mary Elias longed for and envisioned.

Mother Mary Elias laid the foundation of Holy Angels’ Convent School in Trivandrum, dedicating her heart and soul to building not just an institution but a nurturing environment for holistic education. Under her visionary leadership, the school flourished, reaching remarkable heights of excellence. However, we must not rest on the laurels of past achievements. Instead, we are called to walk faithfully in the footsteps of our Foundresses, rekindling the spirit of excellence that is gradually diminishing in many of our institutions. We are also facing a decline in vocations; the same was encountered by our pioneering Sisters, who were not complacent but enthusiastically promoted vocations. Mother Mary Elias travelled across the globe to seek out suitable girls for the work of God. We must ask ourselves, what are we doing in the current scenario?

Like Mother Mary Elias, let us embrace our responsibilities with diligence, integrity, and accountability, ensuring that every task we undertake is infused with love and care. In doing so, we honour the legacy of our pioneers and pave the way for a future filled with renewed purpose and commitment. Together, let us empower and uplift our sisters, staff, and students — especially the young CCRs — to embrace new ventures with courage and vision, becoming the future pillars of our Congregation. May we continue to build a legacy rooted in service, compassion, and faithfulness to our mission. My dear Sisters, I warmly encourage each of you to read and reflect on the life of Mother Mary Elias, especially through the book “My Irish Lily,” written by Sr. Phyllis T. Peter, CCR. A million thanks to our dear Sr. Phyllis for the noble venture she undertook and successfully accomplished.

WISHING YOU ALL A GREAT AND GLORIOUS CO-FOUNDRESS DAY.

Loving God bless!
Sr.Molly Attully CCR
Superior General.

My dear Sisters

Praised be Jesus!

In this Year of Prayer 2024, we are called to prepare our hearts for the upcoming Jubilee of 2025. Pope Francis invites the entire Church to a time of prayer, as we approach the Opening of the Holy Door. This sacred season urges us to reflect on our faith and our role within today’s world across the many spheres where we are called to live and serve, rekindling a fervour for the Evangelization of our time.

We are inspired by the life and spiritual journey of our beloved Foundress, Venerable Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion. Her conversion to the Catholic Faith and her love for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist serve as a model for us in this sacred season. Born Sophie Leeves in 1823 to Anglican parents, she could have led a conventional Victorian life- a refined, genteel figure of beauty and virtue, as portrayed in 19th-century English novels. Yet, she transformed her life entirely, choosing instead a path of service, sacrifice, and evangelization. The thirst and search for truth led her through the hardest life pilgrimage.

Mother Veronica’s father, about whom she writes “My father, although a Protestant, was a man of great virtue; if he had received the grace of being a Catholic, he would have been a saint.” My mother,” she also writes, “was very charitable to the poor, she accustomed us to work for them, and there was one evening each week when all the ladies of our acquaintance met together in our house to sew garments for the poor.” Faith in this household, then, was not a closed-in piety, but one that reached out to others in love and service. In such a home, Mother Veronica was nurtured in a spirit of genuine virtue, service, and compassion. Her upbringing prepared her heart for a lifelong mission in service of God and humanity.

Mother Veronica’s words capture a moment of transformation in her life, marking her journey from doubt to deep faith as she embraced the fullness of the Catholic Church. Her baptism and Holy Communion on the Feast of the Purification in 1850 symbolize her acceptance and commitment to a faith she once observed from afar, but now wholeheartedly claims as her own. Sophie says: ‘I was no longer a heretic but a child of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church. Jesus whom we sought and desired so long came into our soul. He took possession of the two lambs. The Good Shepherd had brought us on His shoulder into His fold. Oh my god, I had so many things to say to Him, that I feared I said nothing. I remained engulfed in silence, but I felt I possessed, my God. I had everything. The whole world was nothing to me anymore’.

Though her soul found deep peace and union with Christ in His fold, her journey was marked by a crucible of suffering, as if to mould her ever closer to the heart of the Good Shepherd. This path of purification, steeped in trials, became her share in the Cross, her offering of love in silent surrender. Why did God permit her to suffer so much? The only logical, even theological reason would be that God loved her so much. He was preparing a high place in Heaven for her and He wanted to purify her. She had received the habit on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and had been named Veronica of the Passion, the Cross had overshadowed her on her Profession Day and ever after. There seems to be no other explanation or answer to the question. Mother Veronica was left to suffer alone, was maligned and accused so grievously. In all these circumstances, she looked at the Man of Sorrows prostrate in the garden, sweating blood and enduring bitter agony for our sins. She prayed hardest when it was hardest to pray. Her Confessor Fr. Chirou gave her the following advice: suffering is an excellent gift of God, which he gives to those He loves most. Bear everything in patience. Surrender yourself to Him, the favour of which is of more value than all the cares and anxieties of the entire world. Take care that no feelings of resentment remain in your heart whatever adverse things may happen to you; and when He will have accomplished His will in you, then the pain will cease.

Let us, then, learn from Mother Veronica’s example and embrace suffering as a hidden grace, allowing it to unite us ever more closely with Christ. When trials seem overwhelming, may we fix our gaze upon the Man of Sorrows and find strength to surrender ourselves fully to God’s will. Let us hold fast to the wisdom of Fr. Chirou, bearing all with patience, guarding our hearts from bitterness, and trusting that each moment of suffering, lovingly accepted, purifies us and brings us closer to the embrace of the Good Shepherd, who redeems all pain in His time. My dear Sisters, Mother Veronica’s journey invites us to rekindle a fervour for prayer, seeking God’s presence and guidance in every aspect of our lives, just as she did. As we stand “In His Presence,” like Mother Veronica, we are called to pray deeply, discerning how we can best serve in today’s world and carry forward the mission of Christ.

Mother Veronica was a woman of visionary dreams, steadfast belief and transformative inspiration. She dared to dream, believed with conviction and inspired others through her very life. Today, she calls upon her daughters to embrace her legacy: to dream boldly, to pursue these dreams and to fulfil them for the glory of God and the good of the world. As Paulo Coelho beautifully expresses in The Alchemist, “When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it,” reminding us of the power of desire and the mysterious ways life supports our dreams.

As the saying goes, ‘What is beautiful never dies.’ The life of our beloved Foundress continues to inspire countless men, women, religious and especially us –her daughters. May this Foundress Day be a moment of a genuine, personal encounter with Jesus and our Blessed Mother of Carmel through the constant intercession of our Venerable Foundress Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion.
Loving God bless!
Sr.Molly Attully CCR
Superior General.

November 15, 2025

 My dear Sisters

Praised be Jesus!

We are near the close of the Jubilee Year, filled with gratitude and renewed faith, under the guiding theme, “Hope does not disappoint us.” This year, we recall with deep gratitude how our late Holy Father, Pope Francis, called us to rediscover hope and mercy. His life of simplicity and compassion, especially for people experiencing poverty, remains a guiding example. His legacy urges us to nurture humility, radiate Gospel joy, and be faithful bearers of God’s mercy in our world.

We continue to reflect on our Venerable Mother Veronica, a woman of hope, and, for this year, I have chosen Article No. 5-g of our Constitution. The spiritual growth was evident in her profound humility and unperturbed patience in all circumstances of life. She was never tired of repeating to her daughters, “Let holy humility and sweet and gentle patience be the continual rule of your conduct. “

Even the word arrogance falls short of describing what we are witnessing in some of our communities, institutions, and the wider world. What we see today is nothing short of violence not the violence of weapons, but of hearts. The unwelcome gaze, the unsmiling welcome, the raised eyebrow, the bowed head, the proud stride each reflects this. It is as though the very air hums a hymn of superiority. Everywhere, heads are crowned with invisible thorns proclaiming, “I am above all.” How blessed would be the time when the opposite was true. Imagine a world where each would place the other above self.

To illustrate this, I remember the story of an ancient monastery that had fallen into decline. The youngest monk was sixty: no new vocations, no joy, only weary silence. Seeking a way out, the Abbot went to consult a hermit in the desert. For several days, they sat together in profound silence. As the Abbot prepared to leave, the hermit finally spoke just one sentence: “One of you is the Messiah.”

When the Abbot returned, he shared the words with his brothers. From that day, something unseen began to change. They did not know who among them was the Messiah perhaps the cook, maybe the gardener, perhaps the Abbot himself. And so, each began to treat the other with reverence, as one might treat Christ. Their speech softened, their eyes brightened, and their hearts were lifted. The fragrance of holiness returned to the monastery.

In time, young men came, drawn by the radiance of the place. And each welcomed with these words: “We have heard that someone among us is the Messiah. What if it is you, my son?” Thus, the monastery rose again not through strength or brilliance, but through humility and mutual reverence.  It is not a new tale. It merely retells a truth as old as creation itself: God made man in His image and likeness. What a greater sin, than to ignore, reject, or crush the divine imprint in one another?

Applying these lessons to our lives as CCRs, some of us Managers, Principals, and Sister-teachers, as well as those in nursing homes, hospitals, or other roles in our mission may sometimes carry an air of pride in dealings with sisters, staff, students, parents, the elderly, and patients. When one of them brings us a concern, they are not disturbing us; they are entrusting us with their pain. Let us listen patiently, offer gentle counsel, and, above all, pray for them.

We called to serve them, not to be above them. They are the true superheroes of our mission. If they are not there, then we cannot be Managers, Principals, teachers, or leaders. Our roles exist only because of the people we serve. Therefore, choose your words carefully before you speak. Let your words heal, not wound, and your presence uplift, not intimidate. Speak with love, speak with gratitude, and turn life into a mission. Never threaten, never humiliate these actions crush spirits and break trust. Instead, let us be instruments of God’s love, humility, and understanding. Leadership is not about authority; it is about service. May we always remember that greatness lies in humbly lifting others. In an age intoxicated by power and poisoned by pride, humility remains the only medicine. It alone has the strength to heal the violence within us and around us to make us once again reflect the face of God.

Just as the monks in the story rediscovered holiness when they began to see Christ in one another, we too are called to recognise the divine presence in every sister. When we approach each other with reverence, gentleness, and patience, our communities become sacred spaces sacred Homes where God Himself dwells. Let us, therefore, renew our resolve to walk in the footsteps of our humble Foundress, to speak softly, serve quietly, forgive readily, and love tenderly. In doing so, we shall not only build our communities in peace but also offer the world a glimpse of God’s healing love.

My dear Sisters, as daughters of Venerable Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion, may we continue to draw inspiration from her deep faith, her self-emptying love, and her unwavering trust in God’s providence, which kept her rooted in humble service. May we continue to contemplate our Venerable Mother Veronica, a woman whose soul was steeped in hope, humility, and patience. Let us recall her own counsel: “Let holy humility and sweet and gentle patience be the continual rule of your conduct.” May her legacy urge us onward to stand and serve in His presence with burning hearts, bringing the light of hope to all creation.

The General Team joins me in wishing you a Happy and Grace-filled Foundress Day!

A loving God bless

Sr. Molly Attully CCR

Superior General

                                October 20, 2025.

My dear Sisters,

Praised be Jesus!

Born Teresa Devine in Tipperary, Ireland, Mother Elias’s spiritual pilgrimage carried her across continents, from France to India, Belgium, Ypres, and finally New Norcia, Australia, wherever God’s providence called her. Mother’s missionary zeal embodied the Carmelite ideal of “contemplation in action.” Deeply united with God in prayer, she discerned the divine image in every suffering face and sought to bring dignity and hope to the marginalised

In a letter to Mother Veronica in 1890, Bishop Ferdinand Ossi praised Mother Elias’s tireless dedication, calling her his “Eldest daughter and the Life of his Establishment.” That same year, sensing a pressing need to shelter destitute and orphaned children, she set her heart to action. With faith as her cornerstone and the support of generous friends, she began the noble work of constructing a home for orphans, opening its doors to the most vulnerable. Mother Elias lived the Gospel in its purest form. The orphaned older girls were trained to work and live with dignity; some were guided toward Christian marriages. The little ones—many sick and abandoned—were baptised and cared for tenderly as treasures of the convent. (CCR -History)

Mid-day meals became the beacon that drew poor children to learning: they were taught to read and write, to pray, and to prepare for their Confession and First Holy Communion. They learned general hygiene and personal cleanliness. The Sisters fed them as a practical step toward education, meeting hunger and hope in one act. Thanks to the invaluable contribution of Mother Mary Elias of Jesus, this evangelisation through education touched the heart of Mother Veronica, an educationist par excellence. (My Irish Lily- Sr. Phyllis T. Peter CCR)

 Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), the first Apostolic Exhortation released on October 09, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV to all Christians, on love for the poor. The following extract from this document illuminates the very heart of Mother Elias’s vision and mission.

Chapter Three — The Church and the Education of the Poor

71.  Many female Congregations were protagonists of this pedagogical revolution. Founded in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Ursulines, the Sisters of the Company of Mary Our Lady, the Maestre Pie, and many others stepped into spaces where the state was absent. They created schools in small villages, suburbs, and working-class neighbourhoods. In particular, the education of girls became a priority. The religious sisters taught literacy, evangelised, attended to practical matters of daily life, elevated spirits through the cultivation of the arts, and formed consciences. Their pedagogy was simple: closeness, patience, and gentleness. They taught by the example of their lives before teaching with words. In times of widespread illiteracy and systemic exclusion, these consecrated women were beacons of hope. Their mission was to form hearts, teach people to think, and promote dignity. By combining a life of piety with dedication to others, they fought abandonment with the tenderness of those who educate in the name of Christ.

As we reflect on this truth on Co-foundress’ Day, let us take the closing lines from no. 71 as our reflection: “They taught by the example of their lives before teaching with words.”

This truth speaks not only to those who stand before students but to every consecrated sister who serves in the classroom, the hospital ward, home for the aged or the mission field. Your selfless service, often unseen and unacknowledged, is the backbone of our community. Our Foundresses and pioneering sisters, through silent witness, tender care and selfless service, became living lessons of love. In times when ignorance, illness, and exclusion weighed heavily upon society, they stood as beacons of hope, forming hearts, healing wounds, uplifting lives, and restoring dignity through the power of their example.

My dear sisters, this is my heartfelt exhortation as we remember and celebrate Mother Mary Elias of Jesus —she who was poor and who served the poor.

• Let every word you speak flow from a life deeply rooted in prayer and daily communion with Christ. Let your speech be gentle, encouraging and genuine, never wasting the precious time of others.
• When those you serve look at you, may they glimpse the compassion and patience of the Divine Teacher in your countenance and actions. Cultivate a temperament of mercy, mercy that is tangible in small and consistent acts.
• Do not undertake works merely to check a duty off a list. Let every ministry be a radical form of love that forms hearts capable of loving, forgiving and serving in return.
• Grow in mutual charity within the Congregation. This is not just a suggestion, but a necessity for our communities to thrive.
• Practice fraternal correction with humility, support one another in prayer, and guard one another’s self-esteem with sisterly fidelity. Let us be a source of strength and support for each other, fostering a sense of unity and love that is essential for our mission.
• Make our community a living school of virtue. Our communities are not just a place we live, but a HOME to practice and learn virtues. Be punctual, dependable, and generous; embrace simplicity; and choose to be poor with the poor in solidarity with the vulnerable.

Dear Sisters, through her compassionate deeds, Mother Mary Elias of Jesus transformed faith into action, prayer into service, and hope into healing. She embodied the “I have loved you” (Rev. 3:9) not as sentiment but as a mission: to render God’s love tangible to those forgotten by society. Let us make Christ visible through the simplicity of our love and the integrity of our witness. May we, like Venerable Mother Mary Veronica of the Passion and Mother Mary Elias of Jesus, continue to teach, heal and serve not only by our words and works, but above all by the example of our consecrated lives.  Our affability, availability, self-giving love, and respect for one another contribute to building a joyful community.

I urge you to read, study and reflect Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), the first Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Leo XIV.  

Wishing you a Glorious and grace-filled Co-foundress Day and Happy Diwali

A loving God bless

Sr. Molly Attully  

Superior General