The memory of Sister Mary Lidwina lives on

Sr. Lidwina was both a reputed elocution and English teacher. She is remembered as a dear teacher by the A.C. novices of the Province of Sri Lanka

When Sister Lidwina came to my Priestly life, it was like a shooting star and as a marker of her flamboyant personality, it enhanced my life. It is her ardent zeal that I admire, which was in the service of the Lord and also her vibrant personality radiates a regal aura. The service she provided to her Congregation and the church at large is unparalleled and I feel that the congregation will not easily find a substitute.
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 Seminary in Ampitiya. Dictation passage 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 closely associate 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 the 30th of October 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 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 Grandpa was stationed in Trincomalee. Returning to Batticaloa, she attended St. Cecilia’s Girls College, Batticaloa. In her diary, she spoke of the Apostolic Carmel (A.C.) sisters with glowing words. Further she said, “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,”. 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 my sister. As time went on before she was on her way to India to join the Apostolic Carmel in Mangalore she went home and spent a day with her mother, grandpa and siblings. To her pleasant surprise she was able to reconcile with her grandpa and all of them saw her off at the station on 16th June 1944.
Upon pronouncing her 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 multifaceted religious woman. She had been the Principal at Carmel convents at Kalmunai, Dematagoda, Colpetty 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 hours 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 potential A. C. Principles who now serve in the Carmel Convent in our island nation.
She was a genuine A. C. nun to the core. She executed her duties in the community with great care. Since music and singing were her forte she was the live wire in any community events. 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 the brainchild of Sr. Lidwina in the college of Trincomalee as it 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 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 she was appointed to the Academy as one of the chief examiners.
Sr. Lidwina was both 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 in Ampitiya.
As she was blessed with longevity, she had the privilege of celebrating her 90th birthday on the 30th of October 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 priest’s students, blessed and prayed over her and later Syrian Ranasingha OMI anointed her. Sister Lidwina took her last breath on the 21st of December 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 10 year 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. Amen.