L-omelija tal-Isqof Joseph Galea-Curmi
With great joy, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sr Damian Thérèse’s religious profession. As we have prayed in the Psalm: we “give thanks to the Lord for he is good” (Psalm 136:1). It is a beautiful occasion to reflect on the faithfulness of God and the commitment of Sr Damian to her religious vocation.
We are here to celebrate fifty years of her religious life, marking a journey of faith, commitment, and service. Sr Damian, it was God who chose you, as Jesus says in the Gospel today (John 15:16): “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain”. You responded generously to God’s call, and it is with his grace that we can today celebrate the fruitfulness of a life lived in consecration to Him.
On this special occasion, I would like to emphasise three points.
The Faithfulness of God
Religious vocation is a response to God’s initiative. God has been present from the beginning, calling you by name, guiding your steps through every life’s challenge. As St Paul says to the Thessalonians: “The one who calls you is faithful” (1 Thes 5:24).
The profession of religious vows is intimately linked to the biblical understanding of God’s covenant—an unbreakable bond of love. Like God’s covenant with His people, religious life is a living testament to steadfast love and fidelity. You have faced many challenges during these fifty years of service. God’s faithfulness is especially evident in times of difficulty, of suffering – when we have to face challenges.
St Jeanne Jugan says: “Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find him when your strength and patience are giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to him: ‘You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only you. Come to my aid….’And then go your way. And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. He has an excellent memory”.
The Witness of Religious Life
Sr Damian, your life has been a gift to the Church and the world, through your specific ministry within the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, your prayer life, and example of Christ-like love.
The vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and hospitality, lived over 50 years, bear witness to a radical commitment to the Gospel. These vows embody the values of the Kingdom of God and inspire others to seek holiness.
Religious life is a gift to the entire Church. The total and definitive gift of self to Christ serves as a sign of an alternative life to the secular trends of the world. Sr Damian, your fidelity strengthens the community and provides an inspiring witness to others.
Gratitude and Celebration
Today is a day of profound gratitude – gratitude to God for His grace, to the community for its support, and to Sr Damian for your generous response to God’s call. This golden jubilee is not the end of the journey, but a continuation of a fruitful life in Christ, perhaps in new and deeper ways.
This special jubilee is also a reminder to all those discerning their own call to religious life, that a life lived for Christ is fulfilling and fruitful. So today, while we express our gratitude to God, we pray fervently for vocations. May the witness by religious inspire future generations to respond to God’s call.
A final word of encouragement. Dear Sr Damian, may you and your congregation continue growing in your relationship with Christ. This golden jubilee is a reminder that God’s call is ongoing, ever deepening.
May you continue your commitment to the poor. As we have heard in the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah: “untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own” (Isaiah 58:6-7). As St Jeanne Jugan says: “Never forget that the poor are our Lord. In caring for the poor, say to yourself: this is for my Jesus. What a great grace!”
Today we rejoice with Sr Damian. As St Paul says to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances” (1Thess 5:16-18). In all circumstances, but especially today on this special occasion! While thanking God today for Sr Damian’s 50 years of service, we pray that God may bless her and keep her in his love for the years to come. May God continue to pour out His grace on her life and her ministry, so that she can continue to serve him with great joy.
✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi
Auxiliary Bishop