Sr. Allen D'Souza was one of four Goa Sudharop fellowship winners in 2006 for her work with seniors. Here is her message to the world-wide Goan community.
************************************************************************************** I am Sr. Allen DSouza belonging to the congregation of the sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. At present, I reside at St. Marys Guest House (Home for the aged), situated in Nagoa, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Its 44 years since we started this institution. From the very day of its inception in 1963, I have been taking care of the weary and old. For a short period, in order to complete my novitiate training, as well as I was called by my authorities in order to help in the opening of other institutes such as Dr. Rock Ferreras Memorial Hospital at Verna, the Technical Institute in Vasco Da Gama and St. Anthonys Children Home in Verna. After this brief period away from St.Marys Guest Home, I was sent back to serve the elderly, the sick and the old. Let me state with all sincerity that I try constantly to become aware of the religious sentiments and the cultural sensibilities of the people for whom I work and live with and have become my very being. I dare confess with great satisfaction and pride that it was a good challenge thrown to me to become one with the old people and walk in their very shoes, specially in my youthful years of life. However, this was one of the reasons for which I began to understand the worth of our senior citizens. The constant and countless sacrifices they made, in order to contribute to different fields of life, was an occasion from which I drew great appreciation and boost to my own morale, thus uplifting my spiritual life. As a counsellor, I am aware of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which I have received. And these gifts in their turn have helped me to become more humane, to help all my old and young friends alike and at all times. What has been a slow death is living as a family member of the aged people, to share in their depressions, unhappiness, in their feelings of unwantedness from their loved ones. This is where I felt very incompetent to cope up with this situation and love them as their own family members would do even though this situation could never be generalised. Many of them have felt it was worth being here in the home, where they experienced Gods love and a peaceful turnover after a long painful battle between life and death. Witnessing these moments of their lives has helped me to renew my commitment as a religious, to God and to all my fellow beings. I did understand better the meaning of the word charity as Jesus Christ said Greater love than this, no man has then to lay down his life for his friends. Though at times I have failed them due to human limitations,I thank God sincerely for the human uniqueness. In the past recent years, I was privileged to be with the youth, as counsellor, I could help some of them to achieve their goal, and at times got them out of their problems of the time, I had the pleasure of helping them be it, entertainment, social and spiritual activities and personal affairs. Lastly, I am totally convinced of the reality of becoming old myself, there is no reversal nor turning back in order to give better loave and service to humanity and God Almighty. Thank you Goa Sudharop for your kind gesture! by Sr. Allen DSouza _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
