Lahore – Sacred Heart Cathedral | August 9, 2025 – In a solemn and grace-filled celebration, three young women—Sr. Sara Anwar, FTL, Sr. Sawera Nadeem, FTL, and Sr. Saiqa Ishaq, FTL—professed their First Religious Vows in the Congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Lahore (FTL).
The Holy Mass was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Benny Mario Travas, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lahore, with the participation of clergy, religious, family members, and the faithful.
Present for the joyous occasion were Sr. Shumaila Meghna, FTL, General Superior of the Congregation, along with members of the FTL General Council, community leaders, and sisters from various houses. His Grace warmly congratulated the newly professed sisters, their families, the entire FTL community, and especially Sr. Shumaila Meghna, FTL, expressing gratitude for their faithful witness to the Gospel.
Remaining in Christ to Bear Fruit
Preaching on the day’s Gospel—“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” (Jn 15:5)—Archbishop Benny Mario drew a vivid analogy of an altar server in Africa who tried to light a bulb without connecting it to the generator. Just as the bulb cannot shine without a power source, he reminded the sisters, consecrated life draws its strength and light from a living, intimate connection with Jesus Christ, the true Vine.
Quoting Pope Francis, His Grace reflected on the word intimacy, describing it as a deep and personal closeness with Christ. He outlined four essential relationships for a fruitful religious life:
- Closeness to God – Through daily prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotion to Our Lady, as exemplified by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, who promised an hour of daily prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and a Saturday Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Closeness to Superiors – Living obedience as an act of love and trust, which, though demanding, safeguards unity and fidelity to one’s vocation.
- Closeness to Community – Building communion within the FTL family by rejecting gossip, jealousy, and divisions, and embracing the example of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, whose sole vocation was love.
- Closeness to the People of God – Serving with humility and compassion, especially the poor, following St. Vincent de Paul, who taught that Christ is encountered in the poor.
The Cross at the Heart of Vocation
Archbishop Benny also cited the witness of Blessed Bishop Pierre Claverie, martyred in Algeria, who taught that the Church cannot exist without remaining close to the Cross of the Lord. In receiving the profession cross, he urged the sisters to remember that remaining in Christ also means remaining near His Cross, embracing sacrifice as a sign of total self-giving.
A Joyous Celebration of Faith
Following the homily, the rite of religious profession took place, with the sisters publicly professing vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Their vows were received by Sr. Shumaila Meghna, FTL, as General Superior, in the presence of the Archbishop and the congregation. The liturgy concluded with words of thanksgiving and blessings for the sisters’ journey toward perpetual profession.
The celebration was followed by fraternal fellowship, during which the FTL community and the faithful expressed their joy and prayers for the sisters’ perseverance in their vocation.
May St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and Our Blessed Mother intercede for Sr. Sara, Sr. Sawera, and Sr. Saiqa, that they may always remain rooted in Christ, the true Vine, and bear abundant fruit in the service of God and His people.
Share it:
Congratulation to the New Professed Sister of FTL
Thank you for your congratulations! We are truly blessed to welcome our newly professed Sister of FTL.