Sr.Lily D’Souza fmm
I CAN NEVER FORGET THIS LOVELY SISTER IN MY LIFE:
As I sat down to write my love note to my dear Sr.Juliana Xavier who went to the Lord on 3rd August, my cell phone rang with this message on it dated 5/08/2012- 10.24 am, “Thank you for touching my life in ways you never know. My riches do not lie in material wealth but in having a friend like you- a precious gift from God.”
Sr. Juliana Xavier whom every one lovingly called ‘Julie’ indeed has been a precious gift of God to me in my life during the few years I lived in Stella Maris Convent. In 1986, I was called to animate Amirtha Community - so afraid and nervous as I was… there came one night to
my room Sr.Julie, sensing my fears and tears in my eyes, placing me in the embrace of her arms, she said, “Lily do not worry, God is with you and He will tell you what to do every day and I am with you in my daily prayers. Whenever you want something to do, ask me, I will do it for you.
Sisters here are very simple though they look very serious and strong. When they are in the college, they are like that but when they come to the community, they want to relax and be with one another- they are very simple.”
I believed in her words and put my trust in the Lord and continued to do His work for my sisters in the community.Sr.Julie was my spiritual guide and moral support. She would listen to me patiently and tell me every time, “Lily, don’t worry, God is with you and I am with you- do not give up.” She would make it a point to put nice, encouraging words on my table whenever she sensed that I was not quite happy.
I have never met a sister in my life so holy, so spiritual, who never talked ill of others, always ready to do anything, anytime for everybody. She walked like a saint and talked like an angel in the campus of Stella Maris and never missed to give a smile to anyone, be they the staff, students, workers, or the poor at the door and ask ‘How are you?.’ In such a spiritual depth she radiated God’s love, compassion and kindness to all who came into her life and I am truly privileged to have experienced the godliness of her life. I firmly believe that the good Lord has crowned her for all she has been for Him on the earth and we have one more FMM saint in heaven to intercede for our Institute, for our province and each one of us. Dear Julie, pray for us.