His Eminence Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, Malaysia presided at the Solemn Declaration of the Beatification of Venerable Mother Eliswa (1831-1913) of Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 8th November 2025 at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam, Cochin, Kerala, India. Cardinal Sebastian as the Delegate of Pope Leo XIV, read the Papal Proclamation.
Present also is His Excellency Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio toIndia and Nepal, Eminent Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful. Most Rev. Joseph Kalathiparambil, Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly and Rev. Sister Shahila CTC, Superior General, Congregation of Teresian Carmelites (CTC) welcomed and forwarded their fraternal love to all.
The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo, offered heartfelt congratulations to the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites for the witness of their lives and enthusiastically carrying out their congregational charism of blending contemplative union with God and active service especially through education and empowerment of women. On behalf of Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop Leopoldo conveyed the Holy Father’s gratitude for their work in the Church and especially in India. Cardinal Dr. Oswald Gracias unveiled the devotional image of Blessed Mother Eliswa and her relics were placed on the altar.
Blessed Mother Eliswa Vakayil is the foundress of the Third Order of the Carmelite Discalced (TOCD) in 1866 which later became the Congregation of Teresian Carmelites as India’s first indigenous congregation for women. She is remembered for the establishment of a school, orphanage, boarding house for girls and several other initiatives aimed at uplifting and empowering women through education, pastoral care and faith.
In his homily, Cardinal Sebastian Francis reflected on Mother Eliswa’s simplicity, God centered lifestyle, faithfulness to God and graceful fortitude. On the personal experiences of Mother Eliswa, he emphasized her life resonates with every wife, every pregnant woman, every mother, every single-mother, every mother of a daughter and every widow. Her life was deeply nourished by frequent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, a life firmly rooted in faith. Her personal motto, "The only subject of our desire should be the three letters: “GOD”, remains central to the legacy she built more than a century ago.
A remarkable testimony to the intercession of Mother Eliswa occurred in 2005 in Ernakulam, Kerala. At 34 weeks of pregnancy, a baby girl was diagnosed with a cleft lip. Through the prayerful intercession of Mother Eliswa, the child was miraculously healed in the womb. We now pray for a second miracle, trusting in God’s time, so that Mother Eliswa may be canonized as a saint.
With immense joy and gratitude, we rejoice to witness this historic moment – one that unites the global Carmelite family, the Archdiocese of Verapoly, the Church of Kerala, the faithful across Asia and the Universal Church. Cardinal Sebastian concluded the homily with “Mother Eliswa, pray for us. Amen!
Earlier in a social media posting, Cardinal Sebastian Francis had contemplated on the sacred privilege to preside at the Beatification of Mother Eliswa: “Heaven rejoices together with us, for another “woman of God” for the Universal Church and for all humanity. With palms folded in prayer, we praise and thank God for the gift and blessing of Mother Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary to all of us. To God be all Glory and Praise!
By Daniel Roy and Christopher Kushi
