Funeral Mass of Sr. Lilly Francis SMMI | 26th May 2026 at 9:30am | MI Convent Provincialate Chapel

[00:00:00]Heat. Heat.

[00:00:32]Heat. Heat.

[00:01:02]Heat. Heat.

[00:01:47]Heat. Heat.

[00:02:50]Dear sisters, sister Vanita our provincial superior and all the Nagpur province sisters please come forward to pay our homage to our dear sister.

[00:03:04]And after this following by Rayur province sisters please be ready.

[00:03:34]Eternal rest grant to her. O Lord, I let shine upon her.

[00:03:48]Eternal rest grind to her. Lord and let perishable light shine upon earth.

[00:04:02]Eternal rest grant to heart. Oh Lord, and let your light shine upon her.

[00:04:17]I will never forget you my people.

[00:04:23]I have called you on the palm of my hand.

[00:04:31]I will never forget you.

[00:04:36]I will not keep you orphan.

[00:04:40]I will never forget my own.

[00:04:47]Eternal rest to her, oh Lord, and let pap shine upon her.

[00:05:00]I say mother for baby mother forget this foren I will never forget my own eternal and rest run to her Lord and let Papa shine upon her.

[00:05:42]Eternal rest grant to her, oh Lord, and let Papa.

[00:05:52]>> Hello. Check. Hello. Check. Check.

[00:05:58]Come.

[00:06:00]Hello. Hello. Check. Hello. Check.

[00:06:04]Check.

[00:06:53]Wee!

[00:06:54]Not have died on way.

[00:07:01]You are the border.

[00:07:06]I am the clay.

[00:07:10]Mold me.

[00:07:15]after thy will.

[00:07:20]I lie waiting, hoping and still have thine on.

[00:07:38]Search me and try me.

[00:07:43]Master today, wider than snow. Lord, wash me just now as in thy presence humbly I bow.

[00:08:06]Have thine unord have died on way and we help me I pray.

[00:08:24]The word of power surely is done.

[00:08:35]And he meavior divine.

[00:08:42]Have done your way. Lord have done your way.

[00:08:52]You are the I am declaring after I will while I am waiting is Come and go with me to my father's house.

[00:09:37]Come and go with me to my father's house.

[00:09:45]Come and go with me to my father's house where there's joy, joy, joy.

[00:09:58]Jesus is the way.

[00:10:01]To my father's house.

[00:10:05]Jesus is the way.

[00:10:08]To my father's house.

[00:10:12]Jesus is the way to my father's house where there joy.

[00:10:25]Jesus is the light in my father's house.

[00:10:32]Jesus is the light.

[00:10:43]in my father's house.

[00:16:29]The Lord is my shepherd.

[00:16:34]There is nothing I shall praise the passions where he gives me a restful water near me to revive my true bear spirit.

[00:17:03]The Lord is worshiper.

[00:17:09]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:17:15]The Lord is my shepherd.

[00:17:20]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:17:26]He guides me along.

[00:17:32]what he knows to be right.

[00:17:37]If I walk into darkness, no evil would I fear.

[00:17:48]I know that he will be there.

[00:17:54]with his rock and with his strength.

[00:17:59]The Lord is my shepherd.

[00:18:05]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:18:11]Yes, the Lord is my shepherd.

[00:18:17]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:18:23]The Lord has prepared such a healing goodness and kindness shall follow after me.

[00:18:44]In the Lord's own house shall I dwell.

[00:18:50]For the days of my life, the Lord is my shepherd.

[00:19:02]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:19:07]Yes, the Lord is my shepherd.

[00:19:13]There is nothing I shall want.

[00:19:20]The Lord is my worship.

[00:19:25]Where is the king I shall precious and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.

[00:19:43]your restful water is me to revive my true spirit.

[00:19:55]The Lord is my worship.

[00:20:01]There is nothing I shall hold.

[00:20:07]Is the Lord is my shepherd.

[00:20:13]Where is the I shall go.

[00:20:31]I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die. John 11:25 His grace. Bishop Ratna Swami, Bishop of Ahmedabad Dasis, Gujarat, Reverend Fathers, especially Reverend Father Manoj MSFS, Provincial Superior of Nagpur Province, Reverend Father Francis, MSFS, brother of Sister Lily Francis, Reverend Sisters, grieving family members and friends in Christ, we are gathered today not just to mourn but to give thanks.

[00:21:31]Thanks for a life that became a mission.

[00:21:36]Thanks for Lily Francis, a religious who spent 49 years reminding the world that every woman is created in the image of God with dignity, with wealth, and with a voice.

[00:21:57]Mary Kuti Francis Puil the first child of 10 siblings was born in Arvitra Palai Kerala on 15th May 1949 to late Mr. Francis Puil and Mrs. Sakouti Francis eight brothers among one is Reverend Father Francis Fuil MSFS who is present among us director in charge of Morning Star Major Seminary Kolkata and only sister Dr. Sister Anie Francis DST answering God's call at a tender age, Mary Kouti joined the smai congregation and made her profession on 30th May 1977 receiving the name Sister Lily Francis SMMI.

[00:23:02]She made her perpetual profession on 4th December 1984 at Kangari, Bangalore.

[00:23:11]Having answered the God's call at a young age, she dedicated her life to serving others and spreading the message of faith.

[00:23:24]Sister Lilia Francis embraced her vocation with unwavering devotion, living a life characterized by prayer, care, generosity, love for the poor and women, availability, hard work, compassion, selfless service, and readiness to do any work asked of her.

[00:23:51]Throughout her 49 years of religious life, Sister Lily Francis has touched countless lives through her various ministries in the church as well as in the society.

[00:24:06]Her dedication and unwavering faith inspired all who knew her.

[00:24:14]She completed her graduation with political science, postgraduation in social work and LLB at Nagpur University and she was a registered lawyer.

[00:24:27]She has done theology for ley at Catholic University Santiago, Chile and sacred science at Matrai Institute Goa.

[00:24:40]Her first mission was Mandela and Kurila in MP from 1977 to 1981.

[00:24:53]She was transferred to Chile mission in Latin America from 1981 to 1984.

[00:25:02]She served in Nagpur province at Ras Gang from 1984 to 1985, SMI Provincial from 1987 to 1990 and again 2000 to 2003 at formation pioneered in establishing Vishuadaya Institute of Social Work and Women Development in Nagpur from 1990 to 2000.

[00:25:33]She was the animator of three communities for 15 years that vishuha kunanivas manser and ishas aji since 11th June 2021 to till date she was in Mary Immaculate convent she was widely known for her pioneering work in women's empowerment, counseling, social development, and pastoral ministry with family apostlate.

[00:26:10]A spiritual guide and friend of many, she possessed a unique ability to connect with people on a profound level.

[00:26:23]Her wisdom and understanding inspired countless individuals to find peace and purpose in their life. She was a voice for the voiceless, strength for the distressed and hope for the forgotten.

[00:26:43]She pioneered in establishing the counseling cell for women in distress in three police stations of Nagpur district that is Indora, Nagpur, Kamti and Manser in collaboration with the department of urban and rural police through 14 49 years of tireless service.

[00:27:09]She taught us that compassion is not pity but action. From police stations to prisons, from villages to the corridors of the church, she walked with the poor especially for the empowerment of women and reminded them of their worth and dignity.

[00:27:33]She pioneered and coordinated Nagpur arch dasis and women's organization for seven years and prison ministry for two years in the arch dasis of Nagpur.

[00:27:48]She constructed a building with Karas project and developed a women's library and study center for the Nagpur Arch Dasis at Naibbasti SFS parish Nagpur.

[00:28:03]She was executive secretary to commission for women of CBCI from 2003 to 2012.

[00:28:15]She was executive secretary to commission for women of CCBI Latin community in 2017 and 2019.

[00:28:29]When the church needed a new language for justice for women, Sister Lily gave it. She pioneered the CBCI gender policy, the first of its kind. Her mission was the same to tell every woman you matter.

[00:28:48]She pioneered in bringing out the first gender policy through CBCI.

[00:28:57]She was board member of Catholic Health Association of India Chai for three years.

[00:29:07]In recognition of her pioneering work for women and society, Sister Lily Francis was honored with several awards.

[00:29:18]But I believe her greatest award was every woman who stood taller because sister Lily once stood beside her.

[00:29:31]Single women's achievement award from Nagpur Municipal Corporation.

[00:29:37]Women's Empowerment Award from Nagpur Women's Club.

[00:29:42]Selfless Service Award from Lions Club Nagpur.

[00:29:48]Empowerment of Women's Award from Evangelical Church in India.

[00:29:54]Best Women's Empowerment Award from CBCI Council for Women.

[00:30:02]With Pen and Passion as a prophetic advocate, Sister Lily Francis authored several books, each one a testament to her lifelong advocacy for the dignity, self-respect, and rights of women.

[00:30:22]each one breaking the silence around violence and inequality.

[00:30:28]She did not write from a desk but wrote from the ground from the tears she wiped and the stories she carried.

[00:30:39]She has authored eight books on women which includes wife battering, women for peace, empowerment of women in church and society, in search of space, splendor of life which is also translated in Hindi. Jani Mahanta, Empowerment of Women and Church in India.

[00:31:08]CBCI gender policy which became Catholic judge document and translated in into different languages in India and also in German language.

[00:31:21]She edited Magnificat women's magazine for CBCI for seven years. Uh magazine for smai sisters for eight years.

[00:31:35]The word of Pope Francis in Evangelium number 273 is befitting in her life.

[00:31:44]I quote, "My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off. It is not an extra or just another moment in life.

[00:31:59]Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self.

[00:32:08]I am a mission on this earth. That is the reason why I am here in this world.

[00:32:16]Sister Lily lived those words and today though her voice is silent, her mission speaks through every woman. she empowered every policy she shaped and every heart she touched.

[00:32:35]We are grateful to our superior general sister Martina Francis and her counselors for their concern and prayerful support.

[00:32:46]Thank you sister Vanita John our provincial superior for your constant accompanyment.

[00:32:54]We extend our gratitude to our parish priest, Reverend Father Sebasti Raj for being with us in our sorrow and for administering the sacrament to our dear sister Lily Francis.

[00:33:08]We thank our doctors Dr. Sasto and Dr. Sanjay Jane and the entire team at hospital for your selfless service.

[00:33:22]We express our sincere gratitude to his for accepting our last minute call.

[00:33:29]Reverend fathers especially Reverend Father Manoj MSFS provincial superior of Nagpur province, Father Francis MSFS, brother of sister Lily Francis, sisters from Rayur province and all our dear sisters from Nagpur family members Dr. Sister Ani Francis DST, sister of Sister Lily Francis, Dr. Baby Francis and Dr. Molly Baby, Mr. Dominic Francis and Mrs. Blessie Dominic, Mr. Joy Francis, Mr. George Francis and Dr. Joyce CJ, friends and well-wishers for being with us in the last journey of our dear sister Lily Francis.

[00:34:21]Dear Sister Lily Francis, you have completed the mission entrusted to you by the Lord with enthusiasm and commitment.

[00:34:33]We believe you will surely intercede for us and for our missions. We express our sincere thanks for all that you had been to us and to the people of God.

[00:34:46]We thank the Almighty and your dear family members for the gift of yours to our congregation and to the church at large.

[00:34:57]Your service to women, the poor and the church will never be forgotten.

[00:35:05]Your hands built institutions.

[00:35:08]Your word shaped policies and your hearts touched thousands.

[00:35:14]The seed you planted will keep bearing fruit long after today.

[00:35:20]You will be in our hearts and hearts of the people whom you served.

[00:35:28]Our hearts are pain to bid you farewell, but we hope to meet you again in our true home with our heavenly father.

[00:35:38]May you live forever in God's presence and intercede for us in our journey till we join you one day. We do not say goodbye. We say thank you. Rest now in the arms of the God who gave women their dignity. The God you served so faithfully.

[00:36:02]Dear friends, as we bid farewell to our beloved Sister Lily Francis, let us partake meaningfully in the Holy Eukarist and entrust the precious soul of our dear sister Lily Francis into the loving hands of our Lord and Mother Mary.

[00:36:21]Well done, good and faithful servant.

[00:36:24]Enter into the joy of your master.

[00:36:27]Matthew 25:21.

[00:36:30]May her soul rest in peace.

[00:36:51]In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[00:36:56]Amen.

[00:36:59]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

[00:37:09]>> And with your spirit.

[00:37:13]Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as you come to say farewell to our dear sister Lily Francis, we thank God for the gift of her to her family, to her parents, to her brothers and sister, and to her religious family, the SMAI family, to all the SMA sisters.

[00:37:36]We thank God for the gift of her to the society to the whole church because she has contributed much to all.

[00:37:48]And as we thank God for the gift of her, we also pray to God that God may grant her eternal life in in his heavenly kingdom.

[00:38:01]As we come to thank God for her and pray for her, let us examine our life.

[00:38:09]We began this holy eucharist with a hymn. The Lord is my shepherd.

[00:38:14]The Lord is our shepherd.

[00:38:17]Do I listen to his voice?

[00:38:21]He constantly tells us to love God, to love each other. Do I love God? Do I love my sisters and brothers?

[00:38:33]For the times we failed in this, let us ask his forgiveness.

[00:38:42]I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters and what to do from my heart to my blessed Mary virgin all the angels I sisters pray for me.

[00:39:14]>> May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

[00:39:22]>> Amen.

[00:39:31]Give me a lon Christ.

[00:39:51]Priest a less pray.

[00:40:17]Oh God, Almighty Father of faith professes that your son died and rose again.

[00:40:25]Mercifully grant that through this mystery, your servant, Sister Little Francis, who has fallen asleep in Christ may rejoice to rise again through him who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.

[00:40:46]Amen.

[00:41:04]A reading from the letter of St. Paul to Romans.

[00:41:08]A reading from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Brethren, none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself.

[00:41:17]For if we live, we live to the Lord. And if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are lords. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both all the dead and the de and the living. For we will we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. The word of the word of the Lord. Thanks be to >> God.

[00:42:18]Psalm your response.

[00:42:21]My soul is thirsting for God the living God.

[00:42:28]My soul is thirsting for God the living God.

[00:42:37]Like the dear that years for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God.

[00:42:50]My soul is thirsting for God, the living God.

[00:42:58]My soul is thirsting for God, the living God.

[00:43:05]When can I enter and appear before the face of God?

[00:43:13]My soul is thirsting for God, the living God.

[00:43:21]Gospel acclamational.

[00:43:36]HALLELUJAH.

[00:43:41]HALLELUJAH.

[00:43:51]AMEN.

[00:43:57]If we have died with Christ, we will also live with him. And if we endure, we will also reign with him.

[00:44:08]Hallelujah.

[00:44:23]Hallelujah.

[00:44:27]Hallelujah.

[00:44:33]The Lord be with you.

[00:44:36]>> And with your spirit.

[00:44:39]>> A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

[00:44:44]>> Glory to you, Lord.

[00:45:07]At that time, seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain. And when he sat down, his disciples came to him. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[00:45:28]Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[00:45:33]Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[00:45:45]Blessed are the merciful, for they shall have they shall receive mercy.

[00:45:52]Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[00:45:57]Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[00:46:12]Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

[00:46:22]Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven.

[00:46:32]The gospel of the Lord.

[00:46:35]>> Praise to you Jesus Christ.

[00:46:48]Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the death of sister Lily Francis, in fact, any death is a reminder to us that we are pilgrims in this world.

[00:47:06]In the letter to the Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 St. Paul says we are citizens of heaven that means in this world we are pilgrims not simple pilgrims pilgrims of hope because as pilgrims our destination is clear.

[00:47:35]What is the destination?

[00:47:37]The loving embrace of the heavenly father.

[00:47:43]So with with this destination clear we are journeying in this world also.

[00:47:54]We are pilgrims of hope because we have someone who sources the way to the father.

[00:48:05]That is our savior Jesus Christ.

[00:48:12]He is the way, the truth, and the life.

[00:48:17]He was with the father and sent by the father into the world and then he goes back to the father.

[00:48:30]He knows the way to the father.

[00:48:35]That's why in the second reading, St. Paul says, "Whether we live or die, we belong to Lord Jesus because he is the one who shows us the way to the father."

[00:48:55]And what is this way?

[00:48:58]The way of love.

[00:49:02]In John chapter 13:34, Jesus says, "I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you."

[00:49:16]We know that we all have love, but we need to grow in love to love like Jesus.

[00:49:26]That's what he says. Love one another as I have loved you with unconditional selfless and self-sacrificing love.

[00:49:41]How to grow in this love?

[00:49:44]By cultivating the kingdom values in our personal lives.

[00:49:53]In the gospel today, Jesus presents these kingdom values to be pure in spirit, to be humble, to be merciful, to be pure in heart, to be peacemakers, and to be ready to suffer for righteousness sake.

[00:50:20]to rejoice in such kind of innocent suffering.

[00:50:27]Our dear sister Lily Francis st to live these values in her life in various ways as we heard in the introduction through women empowerment seminars and programs.

[00:50:50]social development programs, counseling, interreligious dialogue, formation, pastoral ministry and so on various ways even writing books.

[00:51:07]She has spent her life in doing good during her pilgrim life.

[00:51:18]pilgrim life of 76 years and 49 years of committed religious life in Yes, my congregation.

[00:51:35]As she has completed her pilgrimage, we know that she goes to the loving embrace of the heavenly father to receive eternal life, to receive happiness and peace forever.

[00:52:01]As we thank God for her, for the gift of her to her family, of her parents and one of the siblings is already with the Lord and she is with the Lord now and eight of her u brothers and sister are here and other family members ers and the religious family members. Yes, some my sisters are here.

[00:52:38]So we thank God for the gift of her to all of them and to the whole church.

[00:52:47]We also pray for all her grieving dear and near ones that they may be consoled and strengthened through our faith in Jesus. He is resurrection and he is life.

[00:53:05]He is the way to the father.

[00:53:08]He has accompanied her throughout her pilgrim life and now Jesus and mother Mary accompany her to the heavenly father.

[00:53:22]It is with this hope, with this trust, we console and strengthen ourselves.

[00:53:30]And we also are reminded that we are also pilgrims of hope.

[00:53:38]None of us is going to live in this world forever.

[00:53:42]So we are reminded to follow the one way that Jesus has shown is the way of love to love God and love each other and to live the kingdom values in our personal lives so that one day like sister Lily Frances we also you know complete our pilgrim journey.

[00:54:12]we may find ourselves in the loving embrace of the heavenly father in the company of Mary our mother all the angels and saints let's pray for this grace Yours as we stand at the table you set.

[00:55:02]Yours as we eat the bread our hearts can forget.

[00:55:08]We are the signs of your life with us yet. We are yours.

[00:55:15]We are yours.

[00:55:18]Take our bread. We ask you take our hearts. We love you. Take our lives. Oh father, we are yours.

[00:55:30]We are yours.

[00:55:34]Your holy people stand washed in your blood.

[00:55:40]Spiritfilled yet hungry, we await your food.

[00:55:46]Lord, we are we have brought ourselves to you. We are yours.

[00:55:54]We are yours.

[00:55:57]Take our breath, we ask you. Take our hearts. We love you. Take our lives.

[00:56:06]Oh father, we are yours.

[00:56:10]We are yours.

[00:56:13]Yours as we stand at the table you set.

[00:56:19]Yours as we eat the bread our hearts can forget.

[00:56:25]We are the signs of your love with us.

[00:56:30]Yet we are yours.

[00:56:34]We are yours.

[00:56:37]Take our bread. We ask you. Take our hearts. We love you. Take our lives. Oh father, we are yours.

[00:56:49]We are yours.

[00:56:53]Your holy people stand washed in your blood.

[00:56:59]Spiritfilled and hungry, we await your food.

[00:57:05]What the we are. We have brought ourselves to you. We are yours.

[00:57:13]We are yours.

[00:57:16]Take our bread. We ask you. Take our hearts. We love you. Take our lives. Oh father, we are yours.

[00:57:29]We are yours.

[00:57:32]Take our bread. We ask you take our hearts. We love you. Take our lives. Oh father, we are yours.

[00:57:44]We are yours.

[00:58:18]Pray sisters and brothers that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father Acri.

[00:58:35]As we humbly present to you these sacrificial offerings, oh Lord, for the salvation of your servants as Lily Francis, we beseech your mercy that she who die, who did not doubt your son to be a loving savior may find in him a merciful judge who lives and reigns forever and ever.

[00:59:03]Amen.

[00:59:09]>> The Lord be with you.

[00:59:15]>> Lift up your hearts.

[00:59:17]>> Lift them up to the Lord.

[00:59:21]>> Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

[00:59:25]It is right and >> it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy father, almighty eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

[00:59:48]For as one alone he accepted death so that we might all escape from dying.

[00:59:57]As one man he chose to die so that in your sight we all might live forever.

[01:00:10]And so in company with the choirs of angels, we praise you and with joy we proclaim, hosana, hosana, hosana in the highest.

[01:00:42]Hosana.

[01:00:44]Hosana.

[01:00:47]Hosana in the highest.

[01:00:52]Lord we lift up your name.

[01:00:57]With our hearts full of praise.

[01:01:01]We exalted our Lord our God. Hosana in the highest.

[01:01:10]Blessed, blessed, blessed is the one who comes.

[01:01:20]Blessed, blessed, blessed is the one who comes.

[01:01:30]Lord, we lift up your name with our hearts full of praise.

[01:01:39]We exalted the Lord our God. Hosana in the highest.

[01:01:56]You are indeed holy, O Lord, the f of all holiness.

[01:02:02]Make holy, therefore, these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like the dwfall so that they become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[01:02:24]At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion, he took bread and giving thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take this all of you and eat of it. For this is my body which will be given up for you.

[01:03:01]In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and once more giving thanks, he gave it his disciples saying, "Take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice is of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

[01:03:44]The mystery of faith.

[01:03:54]We eat this bread and drink this cup.

[01:04:00]We proclaim your death. Lord Jesus Christ.

[01:04:07]Come in glory.

[01:04:11]Come in glory.

[01:04:14]Come in glory, Lord Jesus Christ.

[01:04:22]Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation. Giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

[01:04:50]Remember, Lord, your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity. together with Leo, our pope, alas, our bishop, and all the clergy.

[01:05:03]Remember your servant Lily Francis, whom you have called from this world to yourself. Grant that she who was united with your son in a death like his may also be one with him in his resurrection.

[01:05:18]Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy. welcome them in light of your face. Have mercy on us all. We pray that with the blessed virgin Mary, mother of God, St. Joseph, her most chouse, with the blessed apostles and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be cos to eternal life and may praise and glorify you through your son Jesus Christ.

[01:06:02]through him and with him and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours.

[01:06:19]Forever and ever.

[01:06:41]Jesus is the resurrection and life. In his words, let us pray to the heavenly father.

[01:06:49]Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

[01:06:59]Give us our daily bread.

[01:07:05]>> As you forgive those who uses >> deliver us, Lord, we pray from every evil. Graciously grant peace in our days that with the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior Jesus Christ and >> Lord Jesus Christ who said to your apostles peace I leave you my peace I give You look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign forever and ever.

[01:08:00]>> Amen.

[01:08:04]>> The peace of the Lord be with you always.

[01:08:08]>> And with your spirit.

[01:08:10]>> Let's offer each other a sign of peace.

[01:08:24]of God.

[01:08:27]Have mercy on us.

[01:08:30]God of the world Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

[01:09:15]Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. Lord, I'm not worthy should enter under my roof. Only say the word.

[01:09:26]Soul shall be healed.

[01:09:50]Have thine own way, Lord.

[01:09:56]Have thine own way.

[01:10:00]Thou art the pot.

[01:10:05]I am the grave.

[01:10:10]Hold me and make me after the Lord.

[01:10:20]While I am waiting, hoping and still.

[01:10:31]Have thine own way, Lord.

[01:10:37]have thine own way.

[01:10:42]Search me and try me, master today.

[01:10:52]Whiter than snow.

[01:10:56]Lord, wash me just now.

[01:11:03]Bless in thy presence.

[01:11:09]Humbly I bas have thine own will.

[01:11:31]Let me I pray over and over.

[01:11:42]Show me.

[01:11:47]Touch me and hear me.

[01:11:53]Savior divine.

[01:11:58]Have thine own way.

[01:12:04]Have thine own way.

[01:12:08]Hold on my king.

[01:12:14]Absolute sweet fil with thy spirit till I shall sing living in th have thine own way.

[01:12:49]Thou art the I am lightly.

[01:13:00]me and make me off to the moon.

[01:13:10]While I am waiting, hope and still Son of my savior, sanctify my pride.

[01:13:44]Bye of sight be thou my saving guest.

[01:13:54]Lord of my savior, lead with me in the dark.

[01:14:04]Wash me in water, flowing from thy side.

[01:14:16]strength and protection may thy passion be.

[01:14:26]Oh blessed Jesus, hear and answer me.

[01:14:36]Deep in thy womb, Lord.

[01:14:41]Harden and shelter me.

[01:14:46]Where shall I never neverart from thee?

[01:14:58]Guard and defend me from the former in that moment.

[01:15:13]Make me only thine.

[01:15:18]Go and beat me.

[01:15:23]COME to the on high.

[01:15:28]Heavenly praise with thy saints for right in the silence of our hearts. Let's thank Jesus has come into our hearts to live with us to live in us. be in him through this holy communion.

[01:16:01]Let us thank him.

[01:16:04]It is only he who satisfy the thirst of our soul, the thirst for him. During our pilgrim journey, we continue to become aware of this thirst for God, the living God, and always strive to satisfy by being close to him.

[01:16:44]Let us pray.

[01:16:51]Lord God, whose son left us in the sacrament of his body, food for the journey, mercifully grant that strengthened by it. Our sister Lily Francis may come to the eternal table of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever.

[01:17:17]Amen.

[01:17:21]>> Now I invite the persons to whom the work of reading the messages have been assigned may come and read out the messages.

[01:17:35]Condolence message by his grace most reverend Elias Gonzalez.

[01:17:42]Reverend Sister Wanita John, SMMAI, Provincial Superior, SMMAI Nagpur. Dear Reverend Sister Vanita, with profound sorrow, I received the news of passing away of Reverend Sister Lily Francis S.

[01:17:58]Mm.

[01:17:59]Sister Lily Francis was deeply committed religious, an inspiring leader and a tireless missionary whose life was fully dedicated to the service of the church and society. her valuable contribution to the CCBI Commission for Women, CBCI Council for Women, Women's Empowerment, Counseling Ministry, Social Development, Prison Ministry, and Interreligious Dialogue will be always be remembered with the gratitude and admiration through our pioneering initiatives, especially the founding of Bishua Institute for Social Work and women development. She touched and transformed countless lives particularly the poor, marginalized the women in distress. Her intellectual contribution through our writings and seminars reflected a deep concern for human dignity, justice, peace and empowerment of women in the church and society. The arch dasis of Nagpur joins the smai congregation in mourning the loss of this dedicated daughter of the church. At the same time we thank almighty God for the inspiring witness of her consecrated life and apostolic zeal. On behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful of the arch dasis of Nagpur, I extend my heartfelt condolences to you, the members of SMI congregation and the entire family, members of Sister Lily Francis. May the Lord whom she served faithfully grant her eternal rest. May her soul rest in peace with prayerful condolences signed by Elias Gonzalez, the Archbishop of Nagpur.

[01:20:17]Uh this message is on behalf of the CPCI Commission for Women.

[01:20:24]Dear sister provincial, sister Vanita of SMMAI congregation, all other sisters present and absent of the family of the SMMAI and all family members who are present here and all others who are present, the bishop and all others.

[01:20:46]With profound gratitude to God for the gift of Sister Lily, we the CBCI Council for Women pays tribute to her life and mission.

[01:21:01]Sister Lily was the secretary of CBCI Council for Women from 2004 to 2011.

[01:21:11]She gave a visionary leadership to the empowerment of women to the dignity of them. She worked earnestly for every individual women who came to her.

[01:21:29]She initiated the CBCI gender policy and continued to remain as a steadfast voice for gender justice and women's participation in the church.

[01:21:46]Her life was a strong witness to faith service and tireless advocacy for women's cause in the church and society.

[01:22:00]Her service and her contribution to the church in India very specially to CBCA Council for Women will be remembered with deep gratitude.

[01:22:17]We stand in the presence of God and we pray eternal rest. Grant unto her, O Lord, may she rest in peace.

[01:22:33]on behalf of most reverend Bishop Thomas Maronios, chairman CBCA Council for Women and Sister Asha Paul, CHF, Secretary for CBCA Council for Women.

[01:23:02]Your Excellency Bishop Sami, Bishop Profabad, Roy Father Manoj, Provincial of Masosa Provincial uh Provincial 8 Nagpur, one sister Wanida, Provincial of Smomize Nagpur.

[01:23:26]All dear fathers, sisters and my dear loving uh siblings came from Gerala.

[01:23:37]And uh dear brothers and sisters, I stand here to express a words of gratitude on behalf of the family of uh Sister Lily Francis, to the church and uh to religious community of uh MS U Smai and to uh to God first of all and to the communities.

[01:24:13]First of all, we know she was taken away from our family when she was only 18 years old.

[01:24:24]The next 60 almost 59 60 years her real family was smom family. So I am a mafus and they are smoms. We are brothers and sisters that way.

[01:24:38]You know, ever since she joined the family of SMA, it was the SMA congregation took care of her.

[01:24:50]She was more smom than Puil.

[01:24:54]Ever since she always used to repeat that she heard the call of the Lord and she came out boldly.

[01:25:04]She has she had no doubts no confusions ever since she entered the congregation.

[01:25:12]St. Franc says how patron saint says that gloom where you are planted but the congregation was smoo they not just left her like that she they gave all the factors that are necessary for her to grow. Therefore, she was able to bloom in this beautiful soil of smami.

[01:25:39]They watered her.

[01:25:42]They manured her. They nourished her.

[01:25:45]They often shook the soil so that oxygen often ended there and she was able to grow and grow and bloom the place where she was planted.

[01:26:02]Now you know that she was a woman with a full of fire within her.

[01:26:09]She had an unsatiated thirst for Jesus and her passion for humanity was born out of her passion for Jesus.

[01:26:22]We know uh Vita Conrad number 84 says that a religious is a prophet and to become a prophet a very um effective prophet three factors has to work together.

[01:26:46]a God vision, anthropological concern, um, sensitivity and church concerns. So when all these factors work together, one becomes a real prophet. After all, who is a prophet? A prophet is the one who climbs on his watchtower and see the world through the eyes of God. That is the difference between a prophet and others. We all see things as just lying before us. But a prophet sees through the eyes of God the world and as such I see sister Lily Francis was a real prophet. She saw everything from the eye of from the eye of God and that is what her god vision. Then she heard the cry of the people anthropology consu sensitivity as uh Moses had the vision of God. God telling to him, I heard the cry of my people and that made him a real savior for God's people and her compassion for the humanity was because he heard the cry of the people and when coupled with the vision of God and the cry of the people she heard and together with the church concerns always she was associated with the church.

[01:28:09]She never thought that she is an independent person always concerning and um get the advices of the bishops and she had a vision. She had just like God had Jesus had a vision and he shared his vision with his apostles.

[01:28:27]He made a blueprint and he was ready to share with anyone who is ready to hear him. The same way she had a vision. She had a she made a blueprint of what she want to do and she shared with everyone whomever she meets she used to share her vision with them and that's how she was able to collect all those who are like-minded people and she went ahead and all these things we see that the congregation's fullest support was there when she was called by the CBCI when they found that there is a woman who is having a lot of fire within her because of the past things that she did and the congregation was so happy to send her at the service of the CBCI and that is what the the history tells us from 2004 to 2011 how she marked out such a way that the women empowerment was made And she first of all she made eight stones. The churches the in India was divided into eight eight stones and he uh he went around and um inspired them. Then second as a second phase she went to each dasis and organized the the women's empowerment um the program and finally 2010 she uh as per the wish of the CBCI she made that um women that uh gender policy gender policy when she presented that in 2010 to the CBCI uh general body meeting I was there I was a witness So when she presented that and finally when the bishops ordered it as the official document of the church, I was so happy to see that all these because she always stood with the with the church. She had no agenda other than the church and the church supported her. We often speak about church do not have sufficient space for women. It's a wrong concept. It's a wrong concept. If someone has a vision, the church is always ready to listen.

[01:30:49]And if the church will give a space for them to grow and that we should always keep in mind that and she is uh a best example of that. First of all, I thank the church. Bishop is there representing the church. Thank you bishop for giving her space. Thank you church for giving her space that she could grow. Thank you congregation for allowing her to grow.

[01:31:13]you watered, you maneuvered and you gave everything what she needed to grow and that's how she grew and all with the grace of God. The Lord was always with him with her. So thank you once again I on behalf of the family po family express all our heartfelt uh thanks and gratitude to what you did to sister uh Lily Francis. Thank you very much.

[01:31:51]On behalf of CCBI and CBCI, may I invite your grace Bishop Prattas Swami to offer the tribute to Sister Leia Francis by placing the wreath.

[01:32:47]May I invite all the priest of the arch dasis of Nagpur to place the wreath and honor sister Lily.

[01:32:58]Not that one. Yeah, there is one.

[01:33:34]May I invite the beloved family members of Sister Lily to offer their love by placing the wreath.

[01:34:26]Now we invite the brother of sister Lily Francis that is father Francis Emma to officiate the funeral ritual.

[01:35:53]The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

[01:35:59]>> And with your spirit.

[01:36:00]>> I bless the body of Lily Francis with the holy water that records her baptism of which St. Paul writes, "All of us who were baptized into Christ, Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. By baptism into his death, we were buried together with him, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.

[01:36:26]For if we have been united with him by likeness to his death, so shall we be united with him by likeness to his resurrection.

[01:37:42]With the faith in Jesus Christ, we reverently bring the body of our sister to be braid buried in its human per imperfection. Let us pray with the confidence to God who gives life to all things that he will raise up this mortal body to the perfection and the company of the saints. May God give her a merciful judgment and forgive all her sins. May Christ the good shepherd led her safely home to be at peace with God and Father. And may she be happy forever with all the saints in the presence of the eternal king.

[01:38:23]Saints of God, come to her aid. Come to meet her, angels of the Lord.

[01:38:29]>> Receive her and present her to the God the most high.

[01:38:35]>> May Christ who called you take you to himself. May angels lead you to Abraham's side. receive her soul >> and prescend here to Lord God most high.

[01:38:47]Give her eternal rest, oh God, O Lord, and may your light shine on her forever.

[01:38:54]>> Receive your soul and present to the Lord the most high.

[01:38:59]>> Father, into your hands, we commend our sister who are confident that with all who have died in Christ, she will be raised to life on the last day. and live with the Christ forever in this life to show your fatherly care for all of us and the fellowship which is ours with the saints in Jesus Christ.

[01:39:25]Lord hear our pray. Lord hear our prayer.

[01:39:29]>> Lord our pray. Welcome our sister to paradise and help help us to comfort each other with the assurance of our faith until we all meet in Christ to be with you and with our sister forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[01:39:50]>> May the angels lead you into paradise.

[01:39:53]May the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

[01:40:04]Eternal life grant unto her, O Lord.

[01:40:10]>> May her soul rest in peace.

[01:40:12]>> Amen.

[01:40:29]There's a time that is fairer than thee, and by faith we can see it a far.

[01:40:42]For the father waits over all the way to prepare us a dwelling place there in the sweet by and by we shall meet on the beautiful sh in the By and by we shall meet on the beautiful shore.

[01:41:21]We shall sing on that beautiful shore.

[01:41:28]And the lord songs of the blessed and our spirit shall sorrow no more.

[01:41:40]Nor a sigh for the blessing of rest in this world.

[01:41:51]By and by we shall meet on that beautiful show in the sweet by and by we shall meet on the beautiful shore to a bountiful father above.

[01:42:20]We will offer a tribute of praise for the free glorious gift of his love and the blessings that hollow our day.

[01:42:40]In the sweet by and by we shall lead on the beautiful sh in the sweet by and by.

[01:43:01]We shall meet on the beautiful shore.

[01:43:08]There's a lamb that is fairer than thee.

[01:43:14]And by faith we can see it a far.

[01:43:21]For the father waits over the way to prepare us a dwelling place there IN THIS WORLD.

[01:43:38]BY AND by we shall lead on the beautiful sh in the world.

[01:43:51]By and by we shall meet on the beautiful shore.

[01:44:01]We shall sing on the beautiful shore.

[01:44:08]Then the Lord dearest sons of the blessed and a spirit shall sorrow no more.

[01:44:21]Not a song for the blessing of rest in this world.

[01:44:31]I am we shall meet on the beautiful sh in this world by and by we shall meet on the beautiful shore.