Hilda Mary Bernath

Sr. Hilda Mary Bernath is from Tamil Nadu, South India. With an academic preparation in education, Montessori, and child psychology, she taught school in both Tamil and English. She was also a gold medalist in sports. After becoming a Franciscan Missionary of Mary, she did graduate work in theology, spirituality and missiology. She then taught school and worked in formation with candidates and pre-novices. Currently, she is ministering in Peru, studying Spanish and doing missionary work.

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Franciscan Missionary of Mary Sr. Hilda Mary Bernath with her rabbit project in Curahuasi, Peru (Courtesy of Hilda Mary Bernath)

Admiring the work of God, the best artist of all

We thank God, the creator who is also our protector, by taking care of our Mother Earth, protecting and nurturing her. In my life in Peru, that has been an experience with rabbits, guinea pigs and gardening.

Sister Hilda, third from the right, stands with her students under an evergreen tree. The picture is taken outside Maria Reina, the sisters’ hostel, in the village of Curahuasi, Peru. (Courtesy of Hilda Mary Bernath)

God's love is evergreen in all our lives

As in the life of our foundress, Blessed Mary of the Passion, each event of my life was sent by God's love for a special reason. God chooses each of us to be his instrument of love and service in a particular way.

The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary sisters enjoy accompanying and helping the poor and elderly women who visit the convent, considering it a unique mission of their community in Peru. (Courtesy of Hilda Mary Bernath)

Every day is the best day in missionary work

Each experience as an Indian missionary in Peru has taught me to surrender myself to God and to cherish inner peace. Following Jesus' footsteps, I love my mission of being with the people of God.

Sr. Mary Hilda Bernath, left, walking with a student and her mother (Courtesy of Mary Hilda Bernath)

Serving the poor among the poor, and blooming in religious life

Mother Church encourages us to be with the poor and work for them; having experienced poverty, I am eager to lift up the downtrodden. As a missionary in Peru, I have challenged myself to grow like a plant in my religious life.

Happiness is the key to success in mission for me in Peru

My mission is not just what I do as a service in the community, but it is also my being who I am, and my communication with my sisters.

Sr. Hilda Bernath, second from right in second line, on her first visit with her Franciscan Missionaries of Mary sisters in the Ancon District of northern Lima, Peru. The sisters work with women and children in the village and are here visiting a shrine t

Stranded in Peru by the pandemic, I know faith is not on lock-down

I am living outside of my home country of India for the first time, and I often get homesick. Yet I am following the footsteps of Jesus, Blessed Mother Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to adapt.