Rt Rev. Urban Eugen McGarry, T.O.R.
First Bishop of Bhagalpur Diocese (1965 - 1987)
No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to work in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the working; He does not do that for us.
On 28th March 1515 the universe resounded with the cry of an infant “I am yours and born for you, what do you want of me?” it has indeed marked the advent of renaissances in the church. Teresa de Ahumada y Cepeda, a highly regarded religious reformer, administrator, spiritual director and mystic was one of the ten children. She was the grandchild of a Jewish cloth merchant. Religiosity and willfulness characterized Teresa as a child. In her adolescence, like a modern teen, Teresa fed her fantasies with chivalry tales. After her mother’s death at the age of fifteen, Don Alonso her father enrolled her in a boarding school where Teresa’s love for the things of God was rekindled. She had to deceive her father, sneaking away to the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation.
“Let nothing trouble you,
Let nothing affright you,
All is fleeting,
God alone is unchanging
Patience
Everything obtains.
Who possesses God
Nothing wants.
God alone suffices”.
Holding things lightly was a skill Teresa of Avila honed over a life time. Whether the “things” were material possessions, the good opinions of others, the certainty of doing things right, or the security of a worldly estate, she was gradually liberated from all entrapments. Thus, she was able to pursue Christ’s mission with courageous thoughts and bare feet.
Teresa of Avila did not hit her stride until she reached middle age. Secure in her relationship with the Lord, Teresa initiated a return to the austere rule of Carmel. Soon she was seen brilliant yet practical, prayerful but not pious. Wedded to the church, a lover of contemplative silence founded 16 reformed Carmel for women and two for men. Reflecting on her life’s journey in and out she has revealed the mysterious truth “hold on to God for he alone suffices.” It was through this process of self realization that she received the gift of wisdom which is well reflected in her writings. Her teachings on prayer and guidance of those seeking intimate union with God are sought by all people who want to see God. She is indeed the Samaritan women of her time who found the spring of living water ‘God’ himself at the well of her heart as explained in her famous treaty on prayer “Interior Castle”.
St. Teresa’s spiritual writings are widely read. Her Autobiography (1611); The Book of Foundations (1610); “The way of perfection” (1583); The Interior Castle (1588); Poems and Letters are some of those for which she is sought after all over the world. St. Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic was declared the first female Doctor of the Church on September 27th 1970 by Pope Paul VI in recognition of her century-long spiritual legacy to Catholicism.
The historical and social milieus were not feasible for Mother Eliswa to embark her mission to farther land. 93 years later after the foundation of the Congregation her daughter Rev. Mother Isabel, the then superior General filled with her sizzling missionary zeal “responded swiftly and generously to the invitation given to Rev. Sr. Genevive by Fr. Peter Gonsalves on behalf of Bishop Urban McGarry to open new avenues among the marginalized” in Bhagalpur Diocese in Bihar. Thus on 27th April 1959, 12 committed, energetic and young daughters of Mother Eliswa like Abraham in the Old Testament set off for unfamiliar land and landed on the mission land of North India at Gokhla and Harimohra on 1st May 1959, with deep faith and trust in the providence of God, ever ready to face many tests and trials for the love of their spouse and his people. “The twin convents” established in 1959 on 1st of May ventured into a long cherished desire to a missionary life among the sundry culture of North India. Our Pioneers took up many challenges as part of their missionary journey. Far away to a strange land, unknown language and unfamiliar traditions didn’t discourage them because God’s favor was with them. Our life style, very much resembled to the people of the place such as staying in mud houses, sleeping on the floor and satisfied with simple food. Recognizing the need of the time we stepped into the pastoral work through family visit and a year later in 1960 education of girls thus the dream of our Foundress Mother Eliswa was realized. Young girls were attracted to our way of life. Spirit of God initiated the local vocation and in 1962 we opened the novitiate at Gokhla under the able guidance of Mother Georgia CTC with three novices: Sr. Celerina from Harimohra, Srs. Archangle and Josetta from Kerala. Gradually mission was expanded to U.P. and M.P. It was in 1988, nearly 30 years after its establishment that the CTC Mission was raised to the status of a province under the title Avila Province with Mother Gracia as its first Provincial. We have now grown in numbers and spread out with many institutions undertaking a variety of apostolate and have bifurcated into four provinces in North India. The sisters of the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites continue to translate the contemplation of God’s love into fruitful service of love for the salvation of the souls through different apostolate according to the signs of the time.
First Bishop of Bhagalpur Diocese (1965 - 1987)
Bishop of Bhagalpur Diocese
