THE JOURNEY OF SR POOJA OF THE HOLY
TRINITY so far…
Pooja Khandekar was born on the
12th of March 1992 at Belgaum, the 1st of 2 children born
to Monappa and Pramila. Although born in a Hindu family, our Lord began to draw
her to himself at a very early age. Her first vivid memory of Jesus is from the
age of three when she saw a movie on Jesus that was
playing in her village. The most striking scene to her then was the scourging
at the pillar. Being very little, she soon fell asleep in her mother’s arms. The
next day, however, she remembers the whole village talking about the movie
being about a “Christian God”. She also remembers being drawn to a certain
building which she had never entered before. A few years later she was to find
out that that building was a Church.
Her attraction towards Jesus was
further fostered when, at around the age of 6 or 7, she started watching the TV
serial Daya Sagar which was on the Life of Christ. At the age of 8, Sr. Pooja started schooling
at the Jesuit run Rosary School at Ajra where she first encountered Christians
and from where her own momentous journey towards Christianity began.
Even as a Hindu, Sr. Pooja was
searching for God, was pious and was devoted to prayer. At school, the holiness
of her principal, late Fr. Franklin D’Souza, S.J, left a deep impression on
her. His simplicity, gentleness and uprightness convinced her that whatever he
spoke, without any doubt, had to be true.
Her
father being in the Army, the family frequently had to relocate to different
places in India which started disrupting the education of the children. With
the desire to have their children receive a good education at a Catholic
Institution and, for academic stability, at the age of 10, her parents admitted
her into the Holy Family Boarding, adjoining the school. It was here that her
prayer life began to sprout. Daily Mass and prayer was part of the time-table
of the Convent, which she faithfully followed.
The
seed of her vocation to Carmel was sown when she read a children’s comic book
on the life of St. Thérèse (Little Flower). So inspired was she with the life
of the saint, that she herself decided to follow Jesus by becoming a Carmelite.
The virtuous life of the sisters in her own boarding further nurtured her
desire to become a nun. She realized that the first step towards the fulfilment
of this desire was to become a Catholic. That year (at age 11) when she was
home on vacation, she informed her parents of her decision to become a nun and
a Catholic. So sincere and zealous was the desire of their child that her
parents themselves agreed to become Catholics.
That same year, her parents and brother
began their Catechetical formation under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Fremio,
of the Diocese of Belgaum (who is also present with us here today) while Sr.
Pooja was catechized at her School and Boarding. The family had to face a lot
of resistance both from within their family as well as from the Parishioners of
the local Church. However, with the kind help of Fr. Fremio, the necessary permissions
were sought from Bishop Peter Machado (former Bishop of Belgaum).
26th of February 2004 was that day
of the Lord’s favour when the Khandekar family received the grace of Baptism
and Fist Holy Communion too. Sr. Pooja was studying in the 5th
standard at that time. Their extended family, being displeased with their
decision, severed all ties with them. Two years later, in 2006, Sr. Pooja
received the Sacrament of Confirmation ministered by Bishop Allwyn Baretto
(Bishop of Sindudurg).
In the 9th standard
Sister met Fr. Rocha, S.J who was visiting the Rosary School and communicated
her intention to become a nun. She clearly informed him that she was looking
for an enclosed convent only, but that she had no information about where such
convents existed. Little did not know that she was talking to the Confessor of
the Sisters at Pune Carmel. Due to her
tender age, Fr. Rocha did not inform the community immediately of the probable
candidate. He, nevertheless, kept in touch with Sr. Pooja. It was only 5 years
later that he informed the community. In the meantime, Sr. Pooja continued her
education. Her vocation was supported and encouraged by her parents who never
let her zeal slacken.
In 2011, after her 12th
std exams, Sr Pooja, began to sense an urgent call from the Lord to join
immediately but was persuaded by her spiritual director, Fr. Anthony D’Souza,
S.J, to continue her studies in order to ascertain her vocation. A year later,
seeing her determined determination, he gave his consent.
0n 24th May2012 (Exactly
6 years back), accompanied by her parents and Fr. Anthony, Sr. Pooja was
admitted into this Carmel to ‘Come and See’ their life. After a month’s stay,
she returned back 11 days later to enter the monastery as a Postulant on the 6th
of June, the Feast day of St. Maria Goretti. From then on began her hidden life
of service to the Church through prayer and self-denial. She was vested in the
Holy Habit of Our Lady on the 3rd of July 2013 and was given the
name Sr. Pooja of the Holy Trinity. She made her 1st profession of
Vows on the 1st of May 2015 and three years later, she made her
final commitment for life, through Solemn Profession on 23rd of May,
2018.
