THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 2000-year old Christianity in India will soon have its first woman saint with Pope Benedict XIV concluding the long-drawn process of canonisation of Kerala-born Sister Alphonsa at Vatican on October 12.
While the Pope will be leading the ceremonies in Vatican, the faithful in large numbers would be turning up to attend a special mass and thanks-giving meeting in the small town of Bharananganam in Kottayam district where Sister Alphonsa spent most of her life in a Clarist convent of Fransican order in early 20th century.
According to Church sources here, a team of nuns from the order left for Rome yesterday carrying the casket of relics and a portrait of the Blessed nun to be displayed during the canonisation.
The head of Syro Malabar Catholic Church Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil and senior prelates would attend the ceremonies at Vatican, where a large number of Keralite Christians are expected to turn up to witness the rituals.
Sister Alphonsa was born on August 19, 1910 at Kudamaloor in Kottayam district. Anna, which was her baptismal name, lost her mother when she was very young. She showed an inclination for religious life as a child despite suffering from various illnesses.
She entered the convent in 1927 and died in 1946.
In 1953, the diocesan process for her canonisation started and the late Pope john Paul-II beatified her during his India visit in 1985. Earlier this year, Vatican announced the date for her elevation to sainthood giving final stamp of approval to a miracle attributed to her.
