ASIA/INDIA - French Sisters of St Joseph of Lyons marking 100 years of presence in India are lauded by local Hindu religious leader

Madurai (Agenzia Fides) - A hundred years of mission among the poor and the outcast. A hundred years dedicated to witness and evangelisation. The Sisters of the Joseph of Lyons, a religious congregation founded in France in 1650, recently celebrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu the 100th anniversary of their presence in India where they arrived in the early 1900s and opened their first orphanage and dispensary.
Today their work is recognised and appreciated not only by the local Catholics but also members of other religions. “The Sisters of the Joseph have helped considerably to improve the living conditions of the poorest and weakest members of society and for development”, said Hindu Kundrakudi Ponnambalan Adigalar a guest at the celebrations who comes from a local temple. “The Sisters are examples of a spirit of sacrifice. They have never deviated from their charisma dedicating themselves to the service of others with love and zeal” he added. Present for the occasion Mother Superior Janet Gagnon, and Archbishop Peter Fernando of Madurai. At the end of the celebrations the superior general presented the guests with a recently published book on the history and activity of the Sisters of St Joseph of Lyons and these hundred years in India .
The celebration of the anniversary comes at a time when tension is registered in some states of India because of the diffusion and activity of Hindu extremists movements capable also of violence and an attempt to introduce ‘anti-conversion laws’ which subject personal change of belief to the judgement of a magistrate.
The activity of the Sisters of St Joseph and many other religious and missionary congregations to help poor, marginalised people, orphans and those rejected by society, bears witness to the efforts of the whole Christian community at the social level to help the poorest of the poor, a valid service without distinction of race, religion, caste, culture or language. (P.A.) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2006 Righe: 25 Parole: 254)