APPRECIATIONS
View(s):May you enjoy your centenary birthday with the heavenly hosts
Sister Mary Lidwina A.C.
Sister Lidwina, the Apostolic Carmel nun came into my priestly life like a shooting star and enhanced my life with her flamboyant personality. I admired her ardent zeal in the service of the Lord and her vibrant personality which exuded an almost regal aura. Her services to her congregation and the church at large is unparalleled and I feel that the congregation will not find a substitute easily.
I had the privilege of getting to know Sr. Lidwina for the first time when I went to sit for the National Seminary entrance exam in 1989 at the Ampitiya seminary. Dictation was a part of our exam and it was Sr. Lidwina who read the dictation passage. I remember she read out the text with eloquence and precision. As time went on, as a priest I was able to associate closely with her when she became the elocution teacher of the Oblate Juniorate, Kohuwala in 2004.
Sr. Lidwina was the eldest child of the family of four children born on October 30, 1924 into a Dutch Burgher family in Batticaloa. Her baptismal name was Mary Gemma (Gladys) De Rosario. She lost her father when she was five. Thereafter her maternal grandfather took charge of the family and she was brought up in a protective environment. Their house was named ‘Gladys Lodge’. She began her education at St. Mary’s College, Trincomalee as her grandpa was stationed in Trincomalee.
Returning to Batticaloa she attended St. Cecilia’s Girls School, Batticaloa. In her diary she spoke of the Apostolic Carmel sisters in glowing terms: “It was Sister Leocrice who planted the seed of vocation as I was her student in Grade 3 and she followed me as my class teacher to Grade 6.” She was supported and encouraged by the A.C. nuns.
It so happened that her grandfather had become ill and pronounced to be dying and he wanted one of the grandchildren to be settled. Gladys being the eldest was asked to give her consent for marriage. This is how she described it, “As I was strong in my idea of becoming an A.C. nun, I refused and finally had to consent – it was an uncle of mine who forced me to give my consent but I was able to run away to the convent before the wedding day. I was sheltered and taken care of by the Sisters.”
As time went on, before she was to go to India to join the Apostolic Carmel in Mangalore, she went home to spend a day with her mother, siblings and grandpa. To her pleasant surprise, she was able to reconcile with her grandpa and all of them saw her off at the station on June 16, 1944.
Upon pronouncement of vows she was named as Sister Mary Lidwina of Christ King. On her return to Sri Lanka she completed her studies at teachers’ training in English at the Government Training College, Maharagama and continued her teaching career as an English elocution teacher.
Sr. Lidwina in her initial years of ministry served a few years at Holy Cross Convent, Gampaha and is lovingly and gratefully remembered by all her pupils.
She was a multifaceted person. She had been the Principal at Carmel convents at Kalmumai, Dematagoda, Colpetty and Borella. She maintained high standards in the convent schools coupled with religious discipline, and was considered to be the stamp of an authentic A.C. educator who combined values, spirituality and excellence.
After school hours she was a mother, friend, mentor and counsellor to many who came in search of her. She visited the families of her students and attended to their various issues. Her leadership and administrative qualities came to its climax at St. Mary’s College, Trincomalee. She diligently carried out her duties both with the educational authorities and the members of her tutorial staff preparing potential A. C. Principals who now serve in the Carmel Convent in our island nation.
She was a genuine A. C. nun to the core. She discharged her duties in the community meticulously. Since music and singing were her forte she was the livewire in community events. On many occasions she would sing the hymn ‘Just a closer walk with Thee’ in her melodious voice, strumming her guitar, bringing hope and cheer to those around her. The “Glee Club” in the college at Trincomalee which was her brainchild attracted numerous young girls and eventually transformed them into talented and versatile musicians and singers.
After her retirement Sr. Lidwina continued her teaching for many years. Since she had trained herself in elocution, speech and drama she taught numerous children and most of them performed extremely well in the elocution exams securing honours and distinctions. She had been a member of the institute of Western Music and Speech (IWMS) and later she became a member of Colombo Academy of Language Skills and Dramatic Art (CALSDA) and eventually was appointed to the Academy as one of the chief examiners.
Sr. Lidwina was a reputed elocution and English teacher. She is remembered as a dear teacher by the A.C. novices of the Province of Sri Lanka. She also taught English and Elocution to the Brothers in the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
She had the privilege of celebrating her 90 birthday on October 30, 2014. Many of her past students and A.C. Sisters visited her at the Province Infirmary and they organized an impromptu birthday party as she became a nonagenarian.
A few days after her birthday she became unwell and eventually had to be hospitalised. She was brought back to the Sisters’ Infirmary. Rev. Fr. Manokumaran Nagaratnam, one of her priests’ students blessed and prayed over her and later Syrian Ranasingha OMI anointed her. Sister Lidwina breathed her last on December 21, 2014 and was laid to rest in the General Cemetery, Kanatte, Borella.
Dear Sr. Lidwina, you are remembered with love and nostalgia as we think of you on your birth centenary and the 10th anniversary of your demise. Your share of good deeds will go with you. Enjoy your birthday with the heavenly hosts and may your soul rest in peace. Amen.
-Fr Lylie Fernando OMI
Grateful for the time spent with you
Indra Sarojini Kumarasinghe
Ammi, it is with a heavy heart
I watch you go through this battle
With the monstrous disease clutching at your life
You are fighting to stay afloat
As you writhe in pain, when nausea overpowers you
You still soldier on
Your appearance slowly changing
Your beautiful face etched with pain
You are slowly withering away
How have I this strength to watch you
Without shedding a tear?
How I can bear the pain and smile in your presence?
I do not know
I am forever grateful for this opportunity
To have spent this time with you
Alleviating your pain, soothing your nausea,
Keeping you company
Helping you get through this ordeal
I am filled with memories of us together
My childhood, my adolescence, my adulthood, to this day
How have I always been close to you
Though million miles away
The phone calls, the complaints, the silly jokes, the teledrama critiques
We share on a daily basis
I do not know how I could survive without my endless conversations
How I could continue without you in my life
Ammi you have been my closest friend, my confidant, my support, my admirer
You will forever be my pretty angel
Who breathed life into me
Forever you will live in my heart.
With love, Baba
Rasanjana Kumarasinghe
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