Tura, Mar 30: The funeral service of Sr. Rosario Lopez Herraria was held today at St Xavier’s Convent Chapel, Tura.
Spanish nun Sr. Rosario, 94 passed away on Thursday at Nazareth Hospital, Shillong.
Rt Rev. Bishop Andrew R Marak led the prayer service, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
Sr Rosario spent decades in Garo Hills helping the specially challenged children, men and women and also established the biggest institute for their wellbeing- The Bethany Society in Tura.
A member of the Catholic Church congregation Missionaries of Christ Jesus (MCJ), Sr Rosario was a well known missionary across the Garo Hills who took the lead to establish a home for the disabled children and provide them quality education through the use of Braille and sign language, while the adult men and women were trained in various crafts and farming practices to help them stand economically strong in society.
She was also a recipient of Meghalaya’s Pa Togan Nengminja award for Social Service.
A close friend of Late Sister Guadalupe of St. Xavier’s who was a pioneer in working with the lepers of Garo Hills, Sister Rosario began her work at Mendal in Garo Hills moving on to Khasi Hills. She established the Bethany Society in Tura in 1986.
Through the society, she opened the Marian Integrated Education for the Blind institute at Kamipara, Araimile in Tura where visually challenged children were housed and schooled. The school was later handed over to the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabrial that went on to establish the biggest education institute for special children in the entire state- The Montfort Centre of Education at Tura.
