FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
Dolcy D’Cruz
Sr Elizabeth Miranda feels elated and nostalgic to be back in Goa and says that there is no place more relaxing and more enjoyable than one's own sweet home.
A student of Holy Cross High School, Siolim, she received her calling to follow Christ at a very young age, “The seeds of faith and good moral values instilled in me at a tender age by my parents and Sisters of the Cross who taught us catechism in school as well as in the Church enkindled in me an ardent desire to serve the Lord. Thus, I experienced God's calling right from my nascent days of schooling,” she explains.
‘Make the Good God known and loved’ were the words of Mother Claudine that gripped her daughters of the Cross. Their lives were a witness to the values of Christ’s love. Seeing the good work at Amravati in Maharashtra, Fr Damian Fernandes of MSFS made an arrangement to bring the Sisters of the Cross to Siolim in Goa. Realising the need to have an English medium school doubled the joy of the generous souls, JJ Almeida and Zenita Almeida, who generously gave their land for a good cause.
Victor Santana Fernandes took upon himself the responsibility of supervising the first building construction, and Santana supervised the construction of the kitchen along with the benevolent blessings of many well-wishers and friends. In June 1933, the convent building was finally ready. Fr Damian left no stone unturned. He welcomed five Sisters to Siolim in the month of May. They were Mother Josephine Buffat and four other Sisters: Sr Tecla, Sr Isabela and Sr Elizabeth, all hailing from Aldona, and Sr Martha, a French Sister. Regional Superior, Mother Celine Dumelin accompanied them to Goa on June 1, 1933.
Holy Cross High School, Siolim was started on June 7, 1933, and was the first English medium residential school in Goa, and the first to be run by the Sisters of The Cross. The number of children enrolled in 1933 were 231. Naturally, the school made good progress in studies as well as in numbers. Mother Josephine built a spacious hall with a permanent stage and the hall was used for local gatherings by the villagers.
“The history of the congregation from 1838 to 2023 is a history of faith and prayer in a constantly changing world. It is a time of grace-the personal dedication of each sister, has given life to these years and has shaped the 185-year anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross. This story also includes all of our sisters who have preceded us in death and now intercede for us before God. We remember gratefully all our predecessors, our spiritual directors, our benefactors, our employees and family members for accompanying us through this glorious journey,” says Sr Elizabeth, about the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross.
What made Sr Elizabeth decide to join the Sisters of the Cross? “It is rightly said that ‘Values Are Caught and Not Taught’. Seeing the lives of the sisters, I was very much edified by their simplicity and service to humanity. I had a great passion to serve the poor and the downtrodden, which I felt could be realised by joining the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross.”
At the age of 21, Sr Elizabeth was the boarding mistress in Siolim. Reminiscing about that time, she says, “It was sheer joy to come back to my Alma Mater to my own village school. Providing motherly care and counsel to those under my care was a great source of fulfilment. I fondly remember those days till now when I used to go out with the boarders for a long nature walk. Back then, there was less traffic, less noise and less pollution.”
Sr Elizabeth was also a full-timer in the Prison Ministry. Her desire to make a difference in the lives of those whom society rejects, was growing in her heart. In 2013, God gave her the courage to respond to the call to serve the prisoners as a full-time volunteer. She worked in Meerut, UK in women's jail and then for four years in the Central Prison in Delhi.
“Release, renewal and rehabilitation was the focus. Besides listening to their stories of pain and suffering, I started counselling, organising programmes, sessions, competitions and conducting literary classes. I felt the need of the hour was to visit their families, helping them financially especially for the education of their children, motivating them to visit their own in the prison etc. I discovered that being rejected by their own families is what hurts them the most. Our visits, our words of consoling and blessing mean a lot to them. I believe ‘Serving prisoners is serving Christ’ and strongly endorse the words of Shirley Chisholm that, ‘Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth’. It is very necessary to cultivate a non- judgemental attitude in order to reach out to the prisoners. The strength for this ministry comes from prayer. While we touch lives with love & compassion, it is God who brings about the renewal and transformation,” she explains her role in the Prison Ministry.
Currently the Superior General of the Sisters of the Cross in Geneva, Sr Elizabeth says that being Superior General is not a one-woman-show, “Sisters of the Cross are present in 16 countries. Overall, administration and animation, visits and meetings with the sisters is a priority. The primary focus is listening, which is so important in today's world. Our Congregation believes in the Circular Model of Leadership where responsibilities are delegated. I have a wonderful team of sisters who work with commitment and play a pertinent role in meticulous planning and implementation of various activities concerning the goals related to our mission and vision.”
This year is very special, as the ex-students of Holy Cross High School, Siolim are into the completion of 90 years of the inception of their Alma Mater. A memento was recently presented to Sr Elizabeth by Luminaries - the ex-students' association of her Alma Mater, Holy Cross High School, Siolim, in the presence of ex-teacher Kusum Agrawal, Sr Tina Cardozo, Superior, Sr Julie Rodrigues, headmistress, Sr Shaly Sebastian, counsellor, and ex-teacher Vilma Fernandes.
“I recall with gratitude for the wonderful ways God has journeyed with us all through these 90 years of my Alma Mater in moulding young hearts and minds and directing the thoughts, words and actions of all who have been instrumental in the development of the institution through their own valuable contribution of dedication, commitment, sacrifice and hard work. Holy Cross High School, Siolim, has been a portal of many vocations towards religious life. Its contribution towards society is immense as students after opting different careers are well placed in different parts of the world and are transcendent leaders endeavouring to constantly bring about personal and social change. My hope and desire is that this temple of learning will stand tall and continue emitting the light of truth and knowledge thereby fulfilling the real purpose of education which is well expressed in the motto of our school ‘Let Your Light Shine’.”
To conclude, Sr Elizabeth shares her hopes for the future, “As Sisters of the Cross, we strive and will continue to do so to commit ourselves through the ministry of education, to form integrated and responsible persons, who in turn will become agents of social change through their active involvement in the lives of people, respecting the sacredness of every person and nature.”
