The young family was deserted by their father when Alphonsa was only a toddler. Her mother, unable to take care of Alphonsa, left her in an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity.
DR NIMMIE SCN
The charming Alphonsa Mathew, a volunteer with Sister Gracy Thombrakudy SCN in ministry to the migrants, has at last found her way to influence the civic system by taking a plunge into local politics. The retired school teacher, Mrs. Alphonsa Mathew was recently elected as councillor in the administrative body of Calicut District, Kerala. Sister Sincy Sebastian SCN interviewed Alphonsa after she was inducted into the local administrative body. As she normally
is, Alphonsa gladly responded to all her queries and here is a summary of the conversation.
The petite woman Alphonsa Mathew is a mother of two grown up daughters one of whom is settled in Canada. The fact that Alphonsa does not reveal any trace of the forgettable childhood she had is itself an inspiration. The young family was deserted by their father when Alphonsa was only a toddler. Her mother, unable to take care of Alphonsa, left her in an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity. Alphonsa dedicates all her accolades to the sisters who cared for her from the day she entered the orphanage. The sisters of the orphanage identified a natural leader in Alphonsa and had always backed her to hone her leadership skills.
Growing up under the tutelage of the Sisters of Charity, young Alphonsa was determined to leave her mark in the society. She knew that education was the only way to reach her goal. That she did. Qualifying herself with a teacher’s training, post graduate degree in English along with a bachelor’s degree in Education, Alphonsa cleared the Public Service Commission examination with ease. She served as a teacher and Headmistress until her retirement a year ago. Reflecting on her profession, Alphonsa feels that her original motivation was to impart gospel values to all her co-workers and students. She went out of her way to render assistance to any one in need. She continued to respond as an instrument of God’s peace to many broken families. Again, the Sisters in the orphanage were her source of inspiration. Married to a farmer, Mr. Mathew, she felt her husband’s supportive hand at every stage of her progress. When Alphonsa needed a caretaker at home to attend to her two lovely daughters, Mathew, her husband could always be relied upon. Alphonsa feels that Mathew was her partner in every sense. From raising the daughters to steadying the family financially, Mathew and Alphonsa were truly partners.
Then there was a time in her life that called her to go beyond her familiar zone. That is when she joined hands with Sr. Gracy Thombrakudy SCN and sensed her mission to be voice for the voiceless. During her journey in the ministry
to migrants, she witnessed the discrimination meted out to the migrants by the locals. Moved with compassion and determination to fight for their rights, she opted to walk hand in hand with Sr. Gracy to bring justice to the migrants. It has been one of her most satisfying period of life she says.
Then Alphonsa realized that just being a social activist is insufficient to bring justice to the poor and the needy. To influence a system for a change, she needed to enter into politics to raise her voice against the atrocities done to the marginalized of the society. She is well aware that only through political intervention can she achieve her goals in reaching out to those in the periphery.
As one who believes in the phrase, ’Walk the talk’, she is confident that she can continue to help the migrants. Alphonsa believes that she can bring about a change in the existing policies for the migrants and monitor their welfare programs. Alphonsa wants the society to see
the face of God in each person and particularly in the migrants who contribute immensely to the economy of the state, and wishes that every person offers selfless services to bring about justice and values of the reign of God.
For Alphonsa her life began with a determination and it led her to a journey of transformation.
∎
