On 8 September 2026, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Pilar, popularly known as Pilar Sisters, in Goa, western India, joyfully celebrated their 38th Foundation Day. This celebration is an opportunity not only to remember the journey that began in 1988, but also to renew their commitment to the missionary charism entrusted to them. Their anthem beautifully expresses this identity. It is more than a song; it is a reflection of who they are, what they are called to do, and the spirituality that sustains their mission. Let us look at the Society’s anthem.
“Pioneering women we all dare; Pilar Sisters is the name we bear.”
These opening words recall the courage of the women who responded to the missionary vision that gave birth to the community. The early Sisters ventured into remote and tribal areas, particularly in Khanvel, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, to serve communities in need. Their pioneering spirit reflects the very nature of Christian discipleship. Jesus calls His disciples not simply to remain with Him but to be sent: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news” (Mk 16:15).
The name Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Pilar itself expresses their identity. They are missionary because they are sent to proclaim Christ; their vocation is lived in communion; and they are entrusted to Our Lady of Pilar, whose faith and availability to God provide a model for their consecrated life.
“Our mission is to love and care / And make Christ known everywhere.”
At the heart of their mission is love. Christian mission begins with the love of Christ and becomes visible in compassionate service. The Sisters’ educational, healthcare, pastoral and social apostolates are therefore not merely charitable activities. They become ways of making the Gospel tangible in the lives of people.
To make Christ known does not mean only speaking about Christ. It means allowing Christ to be encountered through one’s life. A Sister who educates a child, accompanies a family, cares for the sick, forms women for greater self-reliance or reaches out to the marginalised can become a living witness to Christ’s compassion.
The chorus gives a particularly profound description of their vocation:
“We are chosen and sent to set people free.”
The words chosen and sent express the biblical pattern of vocation. Christ first calls a person into communion with Himself and then sends that person on mission. Their mission of liberation is also deeply rooted in the Gospel. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to captives and good news to the poor (cf. Lk 4:18). Thus, empowering women and children “to live in dignity” is an important expression of the Gospel.
Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27). Therefore, promoting the dignity of women, children and marginalised communities is not merely social work; it is a Gospel responsibility. Education, healthcare, formation and empowerment can help people recognise their God-given dignity and become active participants in shaping their future.
Yet the anthem reminds the Sisters that fruitful mission must begin from Christ:
“Anchored in Christ, filled with compassion.”
These words echo Jesus’ invitation: “Abide in me as I abide in you” (Jn 15:4). A missionary who is not rooted in Christ can easily become an activist; one who remains in Christ can allow the love of Christ to flow through her service. Prayer and mission, therefore, cannot be separated. The deeper the Sister’s communion with Christ, the more compassionately she can serve His people.
“We take His light to every nation.”
The Sisters do not carry their own light; they carry His light. Christ remains the centre of their mission. Their vocation is to reflect His light wherever they are sent, especially among those who experience poverty, exclusion, suffering or hopelessness.
This missionary commitment continues to take concrete form through the collaboration of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Pilar with the members of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier (Society of Pilar). Together, they bring the message of Christ to the poor and marginalised, with particular attention to women and children. Their missionary presence extends across Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Goa. In these diverse contexts, their service becomes a practical expression of the anthem’s call to be “chosen and sent” and to carry the light of Christ to those who need it most.
The anthem finally turns to Mary:
“Mary the pillar of strength and sanctity / She leads us to every needy.”
Mary is the model of missionary discipleship. She received God’s word, gave herself completely to His plan and then went in haste to serve Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1:38–39). At Cana she directed others towards Christ: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). She continues to lead the Sisters towards her Son and towards those in need.
As the Pilar Sisters celebrate 38 years of God’s faithfulness, their anthem becomes both a song of gratitude and a renewed commitment. The journey that began with a pioneering missionary response continues today through their presence among the poor, the marginalised, women, children and communities in need across different parts of India.
Their 38th Foundation Day, therefore, is not simply a commemoration of the past. It is a call to renew the missionary spirit for the future: to remain chosen by Christ, anchored in Him, filled with compassion and sent in His name.
May the years ahead find every Pilar Sister courageously living the words of her anthem: chosen by Christ, anchored in Christ, sent in His name, serving with His compassion, and walking with Mary towards every person in need.
Br Malvino Alfonso, OCD, is a member of the Karnataka-Goa Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, based in Goa, India. He is a freelance writer who contributes in English and Konkani to various newspapers and magazines in India, as well as to national and international news portals.
