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The Kerala-born nun Sister Alphonsa will be bestowed with title of a saint by Pope Benedict XIV amidst a religious ceremony in Vatican on October 12, 2008. With this, Sister Alphonsa will become the first woman saint of India. The canonization process of Sister Alphonsa is reported to be headed by the Pope at Vatican. During the Vatican ceremony on October 12, a large number of Christians of Kerala will be joining the special thanks-giving meeting at Sister's ancestral town at Bharananganam in Kottayam district of Kerala.
Sister Alphonsa was involved with Clarist convent of Fransican order from 1927 till her death in 1946. Born on August 19, 1910 at Kudamaloor in Kottayam district, Sister had the inclination towards the religious life since childhood. She was called Anna by local people of Kerala. Various miracles have been attributed to her name. During the canonization ceremony at Vatican, the head of Syro Malabar Catholic Church Cardinal, Mar Varkey Vithayathil will be present along with a large number Keralite Christians.
