Celebrating 25 Years of Partnership at Kurji Holy Family Hospital, Patna, India
On April 24th 2025, the Society celebrated 25 years of partnership between Medical Mission Sisters (MMS) of Unit North India and Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) Patna Province. Originally, founded by Medical Mission Sisters, Kurji Holy Family Hospital (KHFH) in Patna now involves both congregations in its healing ministry. To mark this significant milestone, a thanksgiving mass was celebrated by Father Vimal Kishore SJ, Provincial of Patna Province, with over 20 priests and 200 other guests joining from many religious communities in and around Patna. To add to the joy, present among them for the celebration were: Sister Jackulin Jesu, President of the SCN; and Sister Rowena Miranda who represented MMS’ Society Leadership Team, based in London.
There was a PowerPoint presentation on the 25 years in partnership. This is not only a pioneering landmark in the journey, but serves as prophetic witness to the Church and the world, being the first of its kind in the Church in India. This partnership venture is another way of responding “to the needs of our time” - as urged by the Society’s founder, Anna Dengel, during her lifetime - such as fragmentation, division, exclusion and competition.
To celebrate the partnership jubilee, inter-religious prayer was conducted on three different days with doctors, employees, staff and students of Kurji Holy Family Hospital. A presentation in Hindi informed them about the history of KHFH and highlighted the significance of the partnership journey.
In sending a warm greeting to all of the guests, Society Coordinator, Sister Agnes Lanfermann described this unique partnership, as follows:
“Partnership in Kurji Holy Family Hospital is a new way to life as, over 25 years, we experience journeying together over heights and through valleys. For two and half decades, you were able to respond creatively and courageously to the signs of the times; to work in a team with people from different backgrounds and life journeys who encourage each other to grow in greater communion and participation.
You created space for shadows and vulnerabilities, those of others and your own. You guided the Kurji Holy Family Hospital’s community of patients and staff to see the movement of the Spirit in their lives. Your partnership helped to found union and communion with one another by taking a discerning approach. This begins with an appreciation of diversity as a function of creation and the will of the Creator.
Partnership asks you to learn to recognise your own leadership styles, polarities and tendencies in managing conflicts. Each one will have a different flavour and approach to bring, and all have their own wisdom and strength to share, as well as their vulnerabilities and limitations.
Courage is important as well as vulnerability, since vulnerability can also be a strength that can allow greater “walking together” in a difficult situation and it expands your understanding of what is meant by partnership of Medical Mission Sisters and Sisters of the Charity of Nazareth. It means to go back to the life that Jesus inspired among his disciples: united in God and united among each other.
What is partnership nowadays? It is being rooted in God, a life-long journey of learning, and the ability to integrate various backgrounds and life-journeys into your discernment as one. It inspires others to dare to walk a similar journey in partnership. It is important that each partner remains open to be guided on the journey to unknown places - beyond their own ideas and dreams, open to fulfilling God’s vision of life and love for the world, for the Kurji- Holy Family Hospital, its patients and staff.
Together with the worldwide Society of Medical Mission Sisters, I want to express our appreciation and deep gratitude for your partnership over 25 years. May God reward each one of you for all and everything with his abundant love and life!
I wish that God’s spirit of partnership may continue to work through you and that joy may fill your hearts on this significant anniversary.”
During the celebrations, as President and Vice President of Kurji Holy Family Hospital Society, Sister Manju Ekka MMS and Sister Latika Kottuppalli SCN gratefully acknowledged the vital contributions of religious collaborators from various congregations, as well as the doctors, medical staff and all employees who serve in this healing ministry. Together, they conveyed their deep and sincere appreciation to everyone involved in making the partnership such a fruitful and creative one.
Below you can view companions on the journey.
