Media release

Mangaluru, Oct 21 : At the just concluded province chapter, a new team of the Mangaluru provincial council of Ursuline Franciscan Sisters (UFS) has been elected. 'Ursuline Franciscan Sisters congregation is one of the oldest Catholic order of nuns indigenously born in Mangaluru soil.

Sr Rita Vas has been elected as Provincial Superior. The other members of this council are , Sr Trecilla D'Mello as Vicar Provincial, Sr Clara Menezes, Sr Leena Rodrigues and Sr Lydia Serrao as Provincial Councillors.

The Mangaluru Provincial Council will lead, guide and administer the affairs of all UFS institutions in the Mangaluru Province, the root province forthwith. The province now consists of 32 Communities, 182 Perpetually Professed sisters, 35 Temporarily Professed sisters making for a total of 217 sisters. Also it has 11 novices, 24 Candidates in formation, 144 Ursuline Franciscan Lay associates.

Sr Rita Vas – Provincial Superior: Sr Rita Vas from Amembal was one of the Provincial Councilor and the Assistant Provincial Superior for 6 years in the previous Provincial Council for two terms holding also the responsibility of the formation having the portfolio as Coordinator for Formation. She has PHD (Spirituality of Universal love in the writings of St Angela Merici and Mahatma Gandhi) from Darshan College and Research Institute, Bengaluru. She has served the Congregation as a Formator for many years and also was a resource person in the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation and other Ursuline and Franciscan families conducting programmes on the life and spirituality of St Francis of Assisi and St Angela Merici.

Sr Trecilla D’Mello – Asst Provincial Superior: Sr Trecilla hails from Bejai. She was the Procurator General of the Congregation for twelve years. Formator for a short period ( Asst to Pre Novice Directress). She was the Provincial Councillor for the past three years and was responsible in the administration of temporal goods of the Province. She is also the Revisor ( Internal Auditor) of the Congregation).

Sr Clara Menezes – Provincial Councillor: Sr Clara is from Agrar Parish. She was the Novice Director for four years for the Novices of Mangaluru Province. She was then appointed principal of St Michael’s Composite College Hubli. Presently she is the Principal of St John’s International School, Phalgar, Mumbai, managed by Aldel Education Trust.

Sr Leena Rodrigues – Provincial Councillor: Sr Leena is a native of Bejai. She has been in Education for almost 30 years. A Maths Graduate, she has served as headmistresses in Kelarai, Belthangady and Bejai High Schools. She is known for her administrative abilities.

Sr Lydia Serrao- Provincial Councillor: Sr Lydia belongs to Bolkunje Parish. She has done B Th and Canon law studies at St Peters Seminary, Bengaluru. At present she is in the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Mangalore Diocese as Defender of the Bond.