Ernakulam, Nov 8, 2025

In a historic and deeply spiritual moment for Kerala’s Catholic community, Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary — fondly remembered as Mother Eliswa Vakayil — was formally declared blessed on Saturday at a solemn ceremony held at the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam.

The beatification marks a major step toward sainthood for the nun who pioneered women’s religious life in Kerala more than 150 years ago.

The ceremony, attended by thousands of devotees, clergy, and representatives from various religious orders and also the representative of the Pope.

Born on October 15, 1831, at Ochanthuruth in Ernakulam, Eliswa Vakayil (religious name Eliswa of the Blessed Virgin Mary) founded the first indigenous Carmelite convent for women in 1866, which

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