- 14 September, 2026
Bengaluru, September 14, 2026: Blessed Marie Poussepin, remembered for her extraordinary love for God and service to the poor, sick and uneducated, is being celebrated through a creative cartoon story competition organised in Bengaluru by the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin.
The competition, titled “Create • Inspire • Share”, invites participants to explore the life and mission of Marie Poussepin under the theme “A Heart on Fire with Charity”.
Marie Poussepin was born in Dourdan, France, in 1653 and dedicated her life to serving others. She founded the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin in Sainville in 1696.
Her vision was unusual for her time. Rather than following a strictly cloistered way of life, she established a community whose members could go where they were needed, particularly to educate young people and care for the sick and poor.
Marie Poussepin died in 1744 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1994. She is remembered as a “social apostle of charity”, whose spirituality continues through the congregation she founded.
Her feast is celebrated on 14 October, marking the anniversary of her baptism.
The Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation continue Marie Poussepin’s mission through education, healthcare, social services and pastoral ministry.
The congregation has a presence in countries across four continents, while its communities in India are involved in a range of initiatives supporting children, women, the sick, senior citizens and people experiencing marginalisation.
In Bengaluru, the sisters also maintain a community and formation presence, alongside their wider pastoral and social outreach.
The cartoon competition offers eight suggested story themes through which participants can discover different stages of Marie Poussepin’s life.
They include her family, birth and youth; her devotion to family and industrial activity; her charitable work and membership in the Third Order; the beginnings of the community at Sainville; the approval of the institute; its rules and characteristics; her final years; and her death.
Participants can create original hand-drawn or digital cartoon stories, using images, dialogue and storytelling in their own creative style.
The competition is open to three age groups: children aged 8–15, youth aged 16–25, and adults aged 26 and above.
Each category will have three prizes: ₹2,000 for first place, ₹1,000 for second place and ₹500 for third place.
The organisers have also made eight storylines available to help participants develop their entries.
The initiative is more than an art competition. It offers participants an opportunity to discover how one woman's faith became a lasting mission of charity, education and service.
Through cartoons, a new generation is being invited to encounter Marie Poussepin not simply as a historical figure, but as someone whose commitment to the poor and vulnerable continues to inspire the Church today.
The deadline for submissions is 22 September 2026. For further information and registration assistance, participants can contact the organisers on WhatsApp at +91 81379 65510.
As the organisers put it: “Tell her story. Live her spirit. Inspire the world.”
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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