May 17, 2023
The 17th of May, 2023, marked a great day in the life of Sister Veronica Quiteria Fernandes (Verna) when she celebrated the 100 th year of her life. Having spent the greater part of her life as a teacher in St. Xavier’s High School, later in the Kindergartens of the Nirmala Institute in Goa as well as in Mumbai, Verna has taught hundreds of students, now scattered all over the country, grown-up and independent today, but retaining precious memories of Verna’s
zest, her guidance, her strictness and her tenderness to reach out to them as a
teacher who loved her students.
Having grown up in a large family, Verna had learnt to reach out to all, the young, the elderly, young adults in search of a meaningful future, the lonely, the discouraged yearning to find hope on the stony, winding paths of life. She was happy as a teacher, but deep within she felt a call to leave all and follow the Lord in a life consecrated to Him. Where? How? A few of her teacher companions had found their vocation among the Daughters of the Heart of Mary and observing them, she felt drawn to the charism. Even though she joined the religious Society, she never forgot past students and her love to reach out in service touched the many more she encountered through the mission of the Society in various communities and institutions. And so the morning of May 17 th saw flocking to the Nirmala Niketan chapel, relatives from far and near, ex-students from school days, playing the organ, guiding the choir, a child(now a well-settled mother) arriving from Delhi with her KG gift from Verna, a book on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, colleagues, staff-members, friends, members of the DHM communities, concelebrants, all gathered to thank God for the gift of a century of life to Verna.
She is now on a wheel chair but alive to all that happens around. How could that not be when she still reads the daily newspapers and Catholic journals, even sharing news with the community on topics of the day! Often at quiet lonely moments she closes her eyes to be alive in prayer for the world and those who ask for our prayer.
Verna’s zest for life has continued through walkers and wheel chairs, her mind sharp to understand and let God lead her by the hand...ready to help a poor student for language coaching, or bring colour and life with her artistic flair, brushing away the blues to create lovely bright hues, assembling bouquets of flowers bursting with life and joy in God our Creator. At the reception she received the Papal Blessing for the occasion, a message of
blessings and gratitude from our Superior General and many warm messages of affection. A beautiful souvenir containing memories, poems, humorous episodes was compiled and presented to Verna, to read and enjoy as she crosses the century.
The hymns that were chosen at the Eucharistic celebration brought nostalgic memories: “All through the years, You have been at my side”, rising to an explosion of joy as we sang “Jubilate everybody, jubilate Deo!”, ending on the quiet peaceful strains of “My life entire is Yours, evermore”.
Hazel D’Lima, DHM
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