50 golden years of service to the nation
View(s):Golden bells chimed on August 20, in celebration of yeoman services rendered to society by Rev. Sr. Mary Eustace Tillekeratne of the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary (SCJM).
Born on November 28, 1936 as the fourth child of a family of nine, to Vincent George Tillekeratne and Leonora Matilda Samarakoon, she received her early education at Sacred Heart Convent, Galle. Owing to her father’s transfer as Station Master of Matara, she continued her education at St Mary’s Convent, Matara where she nurtured the early foundations of a humble, committed and disciplined life laid down by her alma mater.
Having completed her secondary education in 1959, she served the school as a teacher for five years. In 1964 she proclaimed her desire to serve and follow Jesus taking to a religious life and entered the Novitiate of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary at Sacred Heart Convent, Galle. She took her first vows in 1966 and was ordained as a reverend sister. Thereafter, in 1967 she continued her development of formation by following the Sister Formation Course at Aquinas College, Colombo 8.
In 1969, she resumed her services as a teacher at Sacred Heart Convent. Having completed the English Teachers’ training course at Teachers’ Training College, Maharagama in 1971-72, she continued to teach while assisting with the administration of the school. She received further theological development in the highest echelons of Catholism in Rome, Italy in 1981 by following the Asian Religious Convention Programme. In 1985 she was made the Sectional Head of the Primary School at Sacred Heart Convent, Galle. She has shaped the future of many young girls in the land.
Whilst teaching amidst dark times of 1988, she accepted a challenging call concurrently to become the Mistress of Novices of the Congregation of SCJM, a post which she held for close to a decade. During this period she diligently discharged her duties in both spheres. Many novices passed through her supervision and today they are serving as Sisters of SCJM. In 1989 she accepted the call to take over the responsibility of being the Sister Superior in the SCJM Communities of Hiniduma, Galle, Matara, Jawatte, Ratnapura, Ratmalana and presently Moratuwa.
She underwent a 30 day Retreat in India in 1991 under priests of the Jesuit order. Her services to the Community and the society continued as a member of the Recruitment Team of the SCJM where many girls were led to become members of the Community and to spread the love of the Lord. She also served as a member of the Retreat Team where she helped the growth of spirituality of the Sisters of the Congregation.
Presently, she forms part of the Commission of Formation where she contributes to the formation of Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary. In celebration of her golden jubilee of service, a Holy Mass of thanksgiving and praise was conducted on Saturday, August 27 at St. Theresa’s Church, Thimbirigasyaya, Colombo 5. Rt. Rev. Bishop Raymond Wickramasinghe, Bishop of Galle was the chief celebrant.