Zenit is carrying the obituary of a most remarkable woman, who impacted a great number of families in India:
An untold number of families in the slums of Bangalore have left behind starvation and alcoholism, and owe their financial stability and full stomachs to Sister Nancy Pereira.
The sister of the Daughters of Maria Auxiliatrix died last Wednesday at 87, leaving a legacy of thousands of families who have found dignity within their poverty.
Nancy Pereira was born Aug. 14, 1923, in the Indian state of Kerala. She made her first profession in 1945.
A biography written by members of her community described her in this way: "[S]he was convinced that her vocation was to be with the poor and to devote herself to serving them. She loved all of them and tried to make them aware of their rights as well as their duties and to live their dignity as children of God. She did this with joy, involving many people in her projects for doing good. Forgetful of self, she lived a life of poverty to enrich the poor."
ICN offers a few more details about her lending practices, which incorporates the most prudent of motherly assistance:
The clients of her Bank had to be poor, people from slums, from villages, people who owned nothing and had no opportunity to build a better life. To obtain credit the person had to prove that he or she had saved a small sum for a year and taken part in meetings of the small credit management group. The annual interest rate was so small it barely covered management expenses. The project of the Bank for the Poor involved the whole family and recognised the needs of each member and therefore, inserted in a Family Integral Development and Education Scheme, it helped improve living conditions for many families and even whole villages.
What a fine testament, especially the element of joy, which can be so hard to maintain amidst such hardships. It's interesting how different her vocation was from that of Mother Teresa (with whom one cannot help but to compare her) and yet she was just as generous and firm in her convictions. I am especially touched by how her program strengthened the family unit, whereas the UN often targets women for their micro-lending programs at the expense of men and families. RIP, dear sister, and may God reward you for your total gift of self.
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