By IANS,
Kottayam (Kerala) : Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday released a set of commemorative coins to mark the birth centenary of the first Indian woman Catholic Saint Alphonsa, who was canonized in Vatican last October.
The function took place at the St Mary’s Church in Bharananganam in Kottayam district, where the tomb of Saint Alphonsa is located.
“Saint Alphonsa taught us to transcend the barriers of language, culture and geography to live together,” said Mukherjee.
The central government in November last year had brought out a postal stamp on Saint Alphonsa.
Alphonsa was born in Kudamaloor, a village near Kottayam, to Joseph and Mary Aug 19, 1910.
Having lost her mother at a very young age, she was brought up by her maternal aunt and educated by an uncle who was a priest. She faced several health problems, which eventually claimed her life July 28, 1946.
On Dec 2, 1953, Eug�ne-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Cardinal Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared a ‘servant of god’. On July 9, 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa.
She was beatified Feb 8, 1986, by Pope John II at the Nehru Stadium in Kottayam.