It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mother Susila, the founder and Superior of Christa Sevika Sangha (CSS). Mother Susila, aged 87, died peacefully in Birdem Diabetic Hospital on 16 May after a long period of ill-health. Gill Wilson, ex-Editor, Oxford Mission News, has written the following obituary.
Although the CSS is a small community, averaging ten Sisters, who live a life of prayer and devotion in a remote village in Bangladesh, such was Mother Susila’s personal charisma that her funeral was attended by all four Bishops of the Church of Bangladesh (CoB), most of the clergy, and representatives of Government Offices and NGOs, to give thanks for her dedicated life and work. In addition, reported The Church of Bangladesh Bulletin, ‘hundreds of people from near and surrounding villages crowded to see her for the last time and honoured her with flowers. Many burst into crying and lamenting’.
Born in 1924, Susila Sitther came from a Tamil family in Chennai (Madras). Her father was a priest in the Church of South India, and she was brought up firmly in the Christian faith. Educated by the Clewer Sisters, she gained a BA (Hons) at Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, and in 1950 made her profession in the English Sisterhood of the Epiphany in Barisal. Later she received the call to start a local Bengali Sisterhood, and with the guidance of Father George Golding, BE, and the Epiphany Sisters, formed the CSS (Hand Maidens of Christ) in Jobarpar. It was consecrated in 1970, and celebrated its 40th anniversary, amid much rejoicing, last year.
There were problems along the way – especially when the Pakistani Army invaded the country and terrorized the population. Susila’s courage and resourcefulness saved many from rape and massacre. Bangladesh is a Muslim country, and the Christian community is a comparatively small one. However, said local leaders at her funeral, Susila reached out to the local people regardless of their faith, class or culture, was aware of social problems and very kind to the poor, promoting peace and harmony among the people. She gave many of them, Hindus and Muslims as well as Christians, much-needed employment in the compound. The CSS runs a home for girls, some with disabilities, girls’ hostels and a play-centre for the little ones. Under Mother’s guidance and inspiration, fifty deep-tube wells were sunk over the years so that surrounding villages could get pure drinking water.
Friends from all over the world visited Jobarpar, were welcomed by the Sisters with music and by dancing by the children, and enjoyed the happy, orderly bustle of the little compound. They found deep refreshment in Mother’s gentle, wise company and lively sense of humour and also in the beauty of holiness in the Chapel where the Sisters said the daily offices of their Order. Mother was loved; so many of the tributes to her received by the Mission include the words ‘I will never forget her’. The Sisters grieve for her, but carry on her work in the way she taught them, under the care of the CoB.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Mother Susila’s funeral service is described by Sr Jharna later in the magazine. The Thanksgiving Prayer Meeting for the life of Mother Susila, held on 17 June, is described below by Lini Moses, niece of Mother Susila.
Everyone assembled in the chapel, and prayers were said thanking God for the life of Mother Susila. We then went in procession to the grave site, with Sister Agnes carrying Mother’s photo and people singing enthusiastically. At the grave, which was beautifully decorated, the Rt Revd Paul Sishir Sarker (Bishop of Dhaka and Moderator of the CoB), Bishop Michael Baroi, Bishop Dwijen Mondal and the Sisters, together with the Catholic Sisters, stood around the grave. Sister Kalyani read a passage from the Bible and Sister Dorothy filled the air with incense. The Moderator, together with the Bishops, said prayers and we laid beautiful flowers on the freshly-painted grave.
Later, we left for the Parish Church where crowds had already gathered. The Moderator welcomed guests from overseas, especially Sister Francesca and her friend who had travelled all the way from Japan to attend the prayer meeting. Nine tributes were said, including one by a Muslim and another by a Hindu. Bishop Baroi said that Mother Susila was true to God’s word:
i) Luke 14: 26 – 27 ‘Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more than he loves his father and mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and his sisters and himself as well. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple’. Mother Susila left her family and came to serve the people of Bangladesh;
ii) Matthew 25: 40 ‘The king will answer them, ‘I tell you with certainty, since you did it for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me’
Bishop Baroi remembered when Mother left Barisal and came to Jobarpar that a missionary lady made her stand for hours outside before she welcomed her into the house. After the missionary left Bangladesh, Mother founded the CSS and there are now 10 Sevikas who have dedicated their lives to God. Sister Jharna remembered when she was diagnosed with cancer and was told she only had 21 days to live. Mother was the one who made frantic efforts to get help from people all over the world for her treatment. She was treated at the Christian Medical Hospital in Vellore and says she is a living example. Sister Francesca, Brother Francis and many more paid their tributes. Once the Service was over, food packets were given to everyone together with a Promise card with a picture of Mother.
The family of Mother Susila renders our grateful thanks to each and every one for the kindness showered on our beloved Susila. God bless the CoB, the OM, and the CSS for their tremendous and commendable work.
My association with the OM goes back to 1976, but it was not until 1999 that I visited Jobarpar and met Mother Susila (she had already been there for 30 years). During my stay at Jobarpar, I came to appreciate and love the purposeful, ordered and active life of the Community and the gentle but firm leadership of Mother Susila. She was kind, understanding and practical, with a clear vision for the life of the Community. She had a wonderful sense of humour. She trusted her own judgment and was a natural leader. She grew old painfully but graciously. She was held in high esteem and was greatly loved. She will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace at her beloved Jobarpar.
Editor’s note: such was the huge response to the request for memories of Mother Susila that we are unable to include them in the magazine, due to lack of space. However, they can all be read on our web-site (click here). If you do not have access to the web-site, please contact the General Secretary and she will post you a copy of the tributes.