The Hindu

MYSORE, Mar 31: Sister Umbertina (Teresa Carrogu), who was known as the Mother Teresa of Mysore, died in Bergamo, Italy, on Sunday. She was suffering from cancer.

She was instrumental in the establishment of Jyothi Welfare Centre at Nadanahalli on Bannur Road, Mysore.

Recalling the early years of Umbertina in Mysore, A.S. Dasan and Nalini Dasan, who were associated with her in missionary and development works, said she was born in Sardegna, Italy, in 1941. She joined the Congregation of Ursuline Sisters of Somasca in 1965, and became a nun in 1968.

After a few years of mission experience in Bolivia, Latin America, she moved to India in 1980 to be the animator of the Indian members of her congregation. Her experiences with the poor of Mysore and surrounding villages moved her to opt for a simple lifestyle, and work for the well-being and happiness of the people.

She not only motivated the new Indian members of her congregation to identify themselves with pain and anguish of the poor, but also practised the kingdom values of the Gospel.

Paying tributes to Umbertina, they described her as a woman of determination and commitment.

She was instrumental in forming mahila sanghas, organising health camps and facilitating poor children to pursue education. A large number of people thronged Jyothi Nilaya to pay tributes to Umbertina.