SISTER JOAN: DEDICATED TO THE REHABILITATION OF ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG ADDICTS
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| Sister Joan Chunkappura, 'Trada', Manganam, Kottayam |
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“Long ago I used to go around the fishermen’s huts of Kollam on a bicycle, preaching to them the evils of alcoholism. Pelted stones were the rewards we got then. Today alcoholics come to me. At the time of departure after de-addiction, they and their dear ones present me with tears of joy. And that is my reward”, says Sister Joan Chunkappura, 'Trada', Manganam, Kottayam, who has dedicated her life to the rehabilitation of alcoholics and drug addicts.
Her
parents named her in memory of the pioneer, Joan of Arc.
She was the Arts Club Secretary in B.C.M.College, Kottayam and had
talents in singing and dancing. So
when she chose to be the Bride of God, it was her friends who were shocked
into disbelief.
“God
had blessed me with many talents. What
could I give Him in return? I
thought and decided to offer myself to Him,” she says about her choice.
After
joining the Catholic Medical Mission Sisters, she wanted to do something
different. Sensing her
inclination, the Congregation sent her to Delhi for higher studies and
later to Africa for a 3 year service.
At
Delhi University she joined M.A course in psychology.
Many of her classmates including her roommate in the hostel were
addicts of one or other type. Sister
Joan’s first de-addiction effort was on her roommate.
“Now
she is married to a doctor and leads a happy life”, she says about her
former roommate. “It was
her recovery that gave me the confidence to work in this field.”
“When
I see addicts return to normal life, my heart fills with gratitude to the
Lord,” says the sari-clad Sister.
Courtesy: Jolly Adimatra (text), C.Sunil Kumar (photo), Vanitha, May 2001
Contributed by: Administrator
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