Sr. Alfonsa is to become the first Keralite to be conferred sainthood by the Catholic Church as the Vatican completed the formalities for her canonisation by October this year, according to church sources here.

The long-drawn proceedings to elevate Alfonsa to the sainthood had been completed by Vatican and the conferment was expected to take place by October, diocesan sources here said.

Sr. Alfonsa, was born in Kudamaloor in Kottayam district in 1910 and, after becoming a nun, led an eventless life in the cloisters of a local Clarist convent till her death in 1946.

The diocesan tribunal for the beatification process was set up in 1953 and she was declared Venerable in 1985. She was raised to the status of the Blessed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Kerala in 1986.

According to sources, her elevation to the sainthood had been recommended by the Congregation for the Cause of Sainthood after being convinced of the miracles attributed to her.

The Keralaites who have been declared Blessed so far, ahead of the canonisation, are Elias Kuriakose Chavara, Mariam Theresa Chiramel, Ramapuram Kunjachan and Mother Euphrasia of Ollur

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