In the year 1968 Sr. Doreen made her first profession in the congregation. Her religious life is one of total commitment to God, to the congregation and mission. She is blessed with talents and endowed with gifts of nature and of grace; and being a person of such a caliber, she would fit in for any type of apostolate, be it in the field of education, formation, social work or administration. Being young at heart and in spirit, she manifests great interest towards youth and being service minded, she has successfully completed her M.Th in youth and family catechesis, and takes keen interest in training the Sisters and the Candidates. She is also a regular visiting professor to Visvadeep Bangalore, her alma mater..

Sr. Doreen possesses in generous measure, initiative, creativity, tact and fine sense of humor. Determination, common sense, singleness of purpose coupled with spirit of prayer is her armour. She has proved herself to be a person of responsibility, integrity with a sense of belongingness to her congregation. As a result, she was elected to be Council General for 12 years and later the Provincial Superior of Mangalore province for 2 terms of 4 years each. She had a tough time during these years (1996-2004), as the congregation was divided into provinces for better administration, and she shouldered this responsibility of shepherding the nascent Province, and it is during these years that she proved her worth and was being prepared for higher responsibility. “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much” (Mathew: 25/21). God had his desires for her, and like Mary our Mother, she humbly said: “ Lord not my will, but thy will be done”. The general chapter assembly of 2004, unanimously elected her as Superior General, setting her on a road less travelled, placing in her hands the staff of a shepherdess, after the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and Sr. Doreen has accepted this service to the congregation with the philosophy that “Authority is service, Service is love, and love is self-giving”.

Being a person of determination, discernment and hard work, within two years of her tenure, she has proved her mattle. The new building of the Generalate of Ursuline Franciscans, a dream made into a reality is the joy and pride of the congregation. She is the inspiration and brain behind this well–planned spacious building. Her missionary slant forced her to venture into the African Continent, and erection of four houses in Tanzania was a daring step. It is to her credit that she has initiated the primary and difficult task of evolving the spirituality of the congregation, which will prove to be a priceless treasure to the sisters. Her timely letters and circulars breathe the spirit of Angela Merici their Founder and St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of the congregation. As a courageous soul of faith and prayer she discharges her delicate task with much love, and great honesty, tempered with warmth and simple humor.

This day, the 27th of September Rev. Sr. Doreen D’Souza, the superior General of Ursuline Franciscan congregation is successfully completing the 59th milestone of her life and is joyfully and hopefully stepping into the 60th one. One another mile…. and there are many more miles yet to walk with promises to keep. Konkaniworld.com wishes her the best of everything, good luck, good health and God’s abundant blessings.

By: Rev. Dr Ronald Cutinha