Sister Lidwina, the Apostolic Carmel (AC) 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 a regal aura. Her services to her congregation and the church at large is unparalled 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 sat for the National Seminary Entrance Examination in 1989 at the National Seminary, Ampitiya. The dictation passage was a part of our examination 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 closely associated her when she became the Elocution Teacher of the Oblate Juniorate at Kohuwela 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. Her father passed away when she was five years old and thereafter her maternal grandfather took charge of the family and she was brought up in a protective environment. Their house was named after as ‘Gladys Lodge’ and she began her education at St. Mary’s College, Trincomalee as her grandfather 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 with glowing terms. She said, “It was Sr. 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’. As she was supported and encouraged by the A.C. nuns it so happened that her grandfather had become ill and pronounced to be dying hence he wanted one of the grandchildren to be settled. Thus, Gladys being the eldest she 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 and spent a day with her mother, siblings and grandfather. To her pleasant surprise she was able to reconcile with her grandfather 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 she 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.
Sr. Lidwina was a multi-faceted religious woman. She had been the Principal at Carmel Convents at Kalmumai, Dematagoda, Kollupitiya and Borella. She maintained high standards in the convent school coupled with Religious discipline. She is considered to be the stamp of an authentic A.C. Educator who combined values, spirituality and excellence together.
After school she was a mother, friend, mentor and counsellor to a variety of persons 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 was diligently carrying out her duties both with the educational authorities and the members of her tutorial staff preparing A. C. Principals who now serve in the Carmel Convent in the country.
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 any community events. On many occasions she used to sing the hymn, “Just a closer walk with thee” with her melodious voice strumming her guitar bringing hope and cheer to those around her. “ Glee club’’ Which was a brainchild of Sr. Lidwina in the College of Trincomalee 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 has trained herself in elocution, speech and drama she taught numerous children and most of them performed extremely well in the elocution examinations 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 she 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.
As she was blessed with longevity she had the privilege of celebrating her 90 birthday on October 30, 2014. A good number of her past students and A.C. sisters visited her at the Province Infirmary and they organised an impromptu birthday party to honour Sr. Lidwina and she was the cynosure of all eyes turning a nonagenarian.
A few days after her birthday she became unwell and eventually had to be hospitalised. Even though she was given special care to alleviate her pain 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 she 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 and enjoy your birthday with the heavenly hosts and may your soul rest in peace.
Fr. Lylie Fernando OMI
