MANVILLE — Sister Linsa Neendukunnel, a sister of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, who for the past 7 years has been living and ministering at St. James Parish, grew up in a family environment so deeply rooted in the Catholic faith that her path to religious life seemed almost preordained. Her story is a testament to the power of a prayer in childhood, where daily Mass, time before the Blessed Sacrament, and evening family Rosary were the unwavering rhythms of daily life in her hometown of Kerala, India.
Sister Linsa was born and raised in ordinary middle class Catholic family, both parents devoted and committed to the teachings of the Church. She recalls memories of her mother spending many hours before the Blessed Sacrament each day in the 24-hour adoration chapel at her parish.
“The family background was enriching and fostering to my religious vocation,” she said. “Their hardworking, exemplary life, devotion and faithfulness to God and each other were a real inspiration for us children. I have nine siblings, five sisters and four brothers. All my brothers are happily married and have children. Of the five sisters, four of them, all older to me, are religious sisters in the same religious congregation as I am.”
Family prayer was a tradition not only in Sister Linsa’s home, but in many Catholic households in the State of Kerala in India with dinner served only after the family prayer. This tradition of family prayer remains the foundation of many religious and priestly vocations in the Catholic Church in Kerala.
“Everyone in the family — whether educated or uneducated, rich or poor, holding a white or blue collar job, a businessperson, a farmer or a daily laborer — gathered together in the evening to pray the Rosary, the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, some novenas and some scripture reading.”
Sister Linsa was already feeling a call to religious life as a young girl following a parish discernment retreat when she was in junior high and after her sophomore year of high school, she joined the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
“My parents tried to discourage me from following my sisters at that time since I was only fifteen years old. They were worried that my decision was not mature. But when they understood that I was serious, I had their wholehearted support and encouragement.”
Sister Linsa explained that her entry into the SABS congregation was a natural transition from her life at home. The charism of her congregation is perpetual adoration of the Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist. Their devotion and commitment to the Lord is also lived daily through other charisms like education, health care, pastoral-social-family apostolate etc. Making sure that the devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist is known and loved throughout the world is the mission of more than 5,000 religious sisters living in 10 different countries.
“The life in the religious community becomes so vibrant and happy because everyone — despite their differences in talents, temperaments, nature, family backgrounds — lives with the awareness that we are all members of the same body that is Christ, and we draw our strength from the Eucharistic Jesus who is the source of all blessings.”
Sister Linsa shared that the number one challenge the women religious face is the lack of vocations, and as the world becomes more and more secular, she feels that the young women are distracted and move away from faith and prayer life.
“They are more focused on worldly attractions and less concerned about the ‘life to come.’ They are more interested in the temporary pleasures that the world provides. Secondly, many of the charisms reserved and performed by religious communities are taken over by secular job seekers and private corporations who have turned them into profitable businesses, rather than works of charity.”
However, as the Catholic Church stands as the beacon of light, religious life also will continue to be the sign of joy of eschatological life. The members of the various religious communities must live more vigorously, shining as lights of hope, challenging the powers of darkness in the world.”
