English 
I am Ravi Varma Essanampalli of St. John’s EM High School, Jangareddigudem – X Batch (2009–2010). My life was deeply touched and transformed by the life and love of Sr. Sophy Antony, a woman whose simplicity, faith, and dedication continue to inspire me even today.
Sr. Sophy lived a life of wholehearted service. Her mission took her to many places—Nellayi as a vocation promoter, in catechetical ministry in the Diocese of Vijayawada, at Damian Convent in Vegavaram, at Nirmala Niketan in Vijayawada, teaching at Vimala I.T.I. in Tanuku, and caring for children in hostels at Fatimapuram, Palakkad, and Vegavaram. Wherever she went, she carried the same spirit: humble, prayerful and generous.
She never sought recognition. Her life was not about titles or applause, but about people—lifting up the weak, guiding the young, comforting the lonely, and creating homes where children felt safe and loved. She lived her religious vows with fidelity, embracing simplicity and obedience with joy. Those who came to her experienced a heart that gave without counting the cost.
I was one of them.
When I came seeking admission into the hostel for my 9th standard, my chances were very bleak. I had performed poorly in the entrance exam, and my family circumstances left little room for hope. My mother pleaded with Sr. Sophy, sharing our struggles and my eagerness to study. Out of compassion, she accepted me.
At first, I thought it was mere sympathy. But soon I realized that her way of caring was not indulgence, but discipline and responsibility. While other students went home for holidays, she kept me back in the hostel, giving me duties like ringing the church bell and locking the gates. As a young boy, I often misunderstood her strictness and felt resentful.
Everything changed when I completed my 10th standard. On my farewell day, she called me aside and handed me a muffler she had knitted and a sweater for the days ahead. With motherly tenderness, she said:
“Ravi, in your home you may not always find food or peaceful rest. That is why I kept you here, so you would be cared for. The duties I gave you were not to burden you but to teach you to obey God and gain strength for life’s struggles.”
Those words pierced my heart. In that moment, I understood the truth behind her discipline—it was love in action. What I had seen as harshness was actually her way of preparing me for life, shaping me with faith, responsibility, and resilience.
And I was not the only one. For every child under her care, she was more than a hostel in-charge—she was a mother, a guide, and a protector. She created an environment where children felt dignity and hope, and her care continued even after we left the hostel.
Her legacy is not written in awards or positions, but in the lives she touched. She taught us that true love is not about comfort alone but about sacrifice; that discipline is not punishment but formation; that faith is not words but a life lived with humility and courage.
Today, though her earthly journey has ended, her memory lives on as a source of inspiration. The values she planted in us—faith, responsibility, obedience, and compassion—continue to guide our lives.
Thank you, Sr. Sophy Antony, for being a mother to many, for shaping our hearts with discipline and love, and for teaching us through your life that true greatness lies in simple, selfless service.
May your soul rest in the loving arms of Christ, and may your intercession from heaven continue to bless and guide us always.
Mr. Ravi Varma Essanampalli,
St. John’s EM High School,
Jangareddigudem
