Mother Veronica (1823 – 1906) born on October 1st 1823, baptized as Miss Sophie Leeves, embraced the Catholic faith on February 2, 1850. Education had always been her strength, and so, this dedicated and passionate English woman took up the challenge to form a new congregation to give wings to her dreams – to impart education to girl child specially in India. With strong convictions and belief in the Lord Almighty, she whole heartedly worked towards achieving her goal and after much deliberation, founded the Apostolic Carmel Congregation on 16th July 1868 at Bayonne, France. Apart from being intelligent Mother Veronica was also a gifted artist and multi-linguist. She left for her heavenly abode in 1906. She has been declared ‘Venerable’ by His holiness Pope Francis on July 7, 2014.
Rooted in the contemplative spirit of Carmel and nourished by its life of prayer and missionary zeal, the Apostolic Carmel expresses the vitality of the Church through its fruitfulness in the active apostolate of education and other works of mercy.
