Sr. Mary Glowrey’s mortal remains exhumed in Bangalore for Canonization process
Bengaluru, Nov 28: A tent enveloped the grave of Australian-born nun Sr.(Dr) Mary Glowrey while several, priests, laity and nuns from the congregation Sacred Heart (JMJ) looked-on along with Archbishop most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras as the mortal remains of the saintly nun were exhumed with sanctity at St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery off Hosur Road in Bangalore, November 28th, 10 am.
The ‘Exhumation, Identification and Replacement of Mortal remains’ of the nun is part of the process of her canonization. Sr. Mary Glowrey, a medical doctor who came to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh in India in 1920 worked tirelessly and with great dedication serving the poorest of the poor was greatly admired for her deep spirituality and sense of mission. Sr. Glowrey visited Bangalore in 1956 for her own medical treatment and died on 5th May 1957.
Archbishop Dr. Bernard Moras who presided over the Oath Taking reminded the gathering “that we all called to live in Christ and die in Christ” explained the Canonization process and applauded the work and spiritual fervor of Sr. Mary Glowrey. Sr. Sundari Singareddy (JMJ Provincial), Archdiocesan officials Fr. A. S. Anthonyswamy (Chancellor) Monsignor C. Francis (Vicar General) and Fr. John D Abraham (Promoter of Justice), Sr. Regina (Provincial,Guntur Province) and petitioner for the cause of Sainthood, Fr. Cherian CMI, Fr.Xavier Manavath (Episcopal Vicar for Religious), Mr. K.P.Chackappan (CHAI), and Postulator Sr. Mary Karickakunnel (JMJ) and medical examiners were among the many others present.
The mortal remains were sealed in a fiber glass casket and the keys handed over by the Archbishop to the Provincial Superior of Bangalore. A communiqué of Archbishop Gali Bali of Guntur Archdiocese was read out by Fr. A. S. Anthonyswamy (Chancellor).
About Sr. Mary Glowrey: Sr. Mary was born in Victoria, Australia in 1887 of devoted catholic parents of Irish descent, the third of nine children, she excelled in academic pursuits and through inspiration in prayer and at her father’s behest took up medicine. On completing her MD in 1919, and as an ENT specialist with her rich and varied experiences in the medical field, she opted to be a missionary. While working in St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, she chanced to glance through a pamphlet and was moved by the appalling death rate of babies fundamentally changed the direction of her life.
The distress of mothers and babies in India made her respond to the call. Mary, describing this moment many years later, said: ‘It brought me face to face with Christ. My life’s work lay clear before me now. It was to be medical mission work in India.’ She landed in the then little-known Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, South India at the age of 33 and later joined the Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (JMJ) rendering her unflagging single-minded devoted service for thirty-six long years at St. Joseph’s General Hospital. Pope Pius XI bestowed a special blessing on her medical mission work.
Unparalleled was her sacrificial service of love in attending to the crowds who used to flock to her for medical assistance from the villages far and near in spite of the minimum means of transportation. She extended her services to the outlying villages though at times unaccompanied. She had an indomitable zeal in rendering medical assistance crouching to relieve the sick and suffering who lay huddled in their huts.
In 1943, Sr. Mary founded the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) which today stands as a reputed NGO in the health care sector. The historical edifice of St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, established after her death in 1967 is a monument of her dream to promote the Christian value of Medicine and to train health professionals to be placed at the service of life. The organization today has over 3,000 member institutions with 11 regional units across all states in India.
Dr. Sr. Mary Glowrey, declared as ‘Servant of God’ in the Infant Jesus’ Cathedral, Phirangipuram, Guntur Diocese on 27th March 2013 during ‘Chrism Mass’ by Most Rev. Dr. Gali Bali, Bishop of Guntur.
(photos of exhumation process awaited from the Province)