An MLA recited the whole of Psalm 103 to her in Telugu, and she went to the ladies' restroom and cried

During her work there she fought hard to procure land allotment for leprosy patients and helped establish the CHSW Centre at Parvatnagar, aided by LEPRA India. She was recognised for that work with a lifetime achievement award from the Governor of Andhra Pradesh in 2009.

A gregarious extrovert, Christine served in several organisations providing services to young and disabled people before she began focusing on the needs of the Anglo-Indian community. In recognition of her work for the disadvantaged, she was nominated as an MLA for the first time for the 1989 to 1994 term by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. She championed the cause of the Anglo-Indian community by establishing the Anglo-Indian Welfare Association.

What she actually did with the seat

Among her other accomplishments are the setting up of YMCA and YWCA programmes by aligning them with the Department of Industries. She worked with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to set up Aashray, a home for children in distress. She convened seminars on alcoholism, to help both alcoholics and the families affected by it, in her capacity as Convenor of the Joint Action Forum of Women. She also set up government vocational training for women through the small industries service institute at the YMCA.

She is a founding member of the United Christmas Celebrations. In that role she demanded a Christian Finance Corporation, so that budget allocations are spent for the community and enhancement funds accrue regularly. She was instrumental in ensuring that Christmas is celebrated in every district, and not restricted to a High Tea with the Chief Minister in Hyderabad.

Religion is a sticky wicket for any politician, but Christine took the bull by the horns in order to address the accusation against the Church of selling properties illegally. She was tenacious in her efforts with the government to protect, restore and retrieve any lands allocated to the Church on religious grounds. Along with the House Committee she prepared legislation on the matter, which she says has since been relegated to the back burner.

Due to her efforts, 185 professional seats were allotted to the Anglo-Indian community. As always, there were a few who did not fully understand her mission, but she did not let their hesitation stop her from doing what she believed was right.

The salvation experience, in her own words

I was born into a family where my mother, who was Anglican, had to become a Catholic to marry my father, who in those times was Cambridge educated and excelled in religious studies. As a voracious reader his conversation with my mother was kind of banned, but I gleaned much from their heated arguments about why we children should not read the Bible.

My grandfather, an army man, was also a dedicated Catholic, and ever since I can remember, all the children from the compound had to get up early in the morning to walk to church before Mass to wipe the benches, later to cut flowers for the altar, graduating to polishing the brass and singing in the choir.

In school I was a Crusader and then graduated to the Legion of Mary, and after marriage to a staunch Catholic I served the Christian Workers Movement for more than twenty-five years. But those arguments were in the back of my mind, and I kept searching for the answers to my questions.

Ask me anything from the Bible

It was in my first term as an MLA. All members requested assistance with admissions in various schools and colleges, but one told me he was a Christian. Taken aback, I replied, "Yes, all are Christian when they want something." He said, ask me anything from the Bible.

For a long minute I was perturbed. I did not know a reference.

For a long minute I was perturbed. I did not know a reference.

Christine Lazares

My mother had the habit of singing psalms, and would quote the number. Thank God, that morning she had sung Psalm 103. I recalled it and said, all right, recite 103, thinking in the back of my mind that this man was trying something new to get my attention. During the first term that was a great problem.

But the MLA recited every word in Telugu, with so much passion. Tears welled up in my eyes and I went to the ladies' restroom and cried my heart out. I said, O my God, I am a Christian, my name is Christine, and I am lost.

It was then I promised myself I would study the Bible, and from all through those years of the first term until today I started to pray, and went to nearly every church and home prayer meeting, and belong to many prayer groups.

You will be the first Catholic

At the last meeting of my first term I was invited as chief guest to Andhra Christian Theological College at Lower Tank Bund for a youth meet, and narrated my story: the questions I had had as a young person, and that there was no Catholic Bible college.

The Principal interrupted me and said, you are most welcome at ACTC. I replied, but I am a Catholic. To which he replied, you will be the first Catholic.

I replied, but I am a Catholic. To which he replied, you will be the first Catholic.

Christine Lazares

I was elated, and asked if I could join in the year 1995. I did, and completed a four-year Bachelor in Christian Studies that answered all of my questions. I found answers to who I am and what God wanted from me, and most of all I learned the lessons on righteousness and justice.

Once a Catholic, always one. But my entire perspective on life changed, and most of the time I had the church leadership by the horns, totally upset with me for raising the issue of the illegal sale of Christian properties. I made legislation for the protection, revival, restoration and rebuilding of thousands of acres of properties that did not see the light of day, with vociferous condemnation from the elders.

Today I count one loss: of our presence as Christians in the land. Our dignity. Our integrity. And with it the only opportunity of participating in the Great Commission.