An Apostolic Sister fortunate to celebrate her 100th birthday and 75th monastic life
“What I see special in her is, although Sister is living here with us her soul is with the Lord. Because She has shown an exemplary, beautiful, and dedicated life before us through a very challenging and obedient life. Therefore, today we thank God for her. Thank God for her Apostolic Carmel Congregation ” said Bishop Valence Mendis celebrating the Holy mass. Parishioners of Nainamadama say that “Sister Theonilla is the “Saint” and the “Rose flower” of our village.
Bishop Valence Mendis the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chilaw stated so, at the thanksgiving Holy mass offered for the celebration of 100 years birthday and the 75 years of the religious life of Sister Mary Theonilla, Apostolic Carmel (AC). She was born on the 08th of December in 1922.
With the theme “ Glory, Praise & Thanks to the Triune God”, the thanksgiving Holy Mass was celebrated St. Anthony’s Church, Nainamadama in the Diocese of Chilaw on the 08th of December with the attendance of Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation and several religious Sisters and Priests, her relatives, and the parishioners.
“Thanking the Almighty God for the very beautiful, dedicated, and exemplary life that Sister Theonilla has given us for 75 years, let’s ask the Almighty God to grant her the necessary mental and physical healing through this great divine sacrifice,” Bishop Valence asked the faithful.
Delivering the homily, Bishop Valance said that Priestly life is a gift from God to his people.75 years dedicated to the monastic life is a very extraordinary blessing that God has given to Sister Theonilla. Our God’s people experienced God’s love through you for 75 years. We are happy for you, dear Sister.” said Bishop Valence Mendis.
Remembering that the Holy Scriptures state that God has thought about us even before the creation of the world, the Bishop said that God has chosen all of us for a special purpose.
“That purpose is…” Bishop reminded us, ” living in this world as His children, traveling to God’s Kingdom, and encouraging others, also the people who do not know God, to travel through our life testimony to that journey is the special task that God expects from us.”
Bishop Valence also stated that a Priest or a religious is someone who has been called to lead that work and that it is something that the people of God expect from us today to see us as priests walking in God.
“Sister Theonilla has given that example to the world. It is impossible to live the life of Jesus without obedience in life, finding difficult places and serving, giving love to everyone, and accepting challenges. Sister Theonilla has accomplished that.” Said Bishop Valence.
“What I see special in her is, she is here but her soul is with the Lord. We offer such an exemplary life to God today. We are not just celebrating the nice number 100. We are celebrating the beautiful life, the exemplary life shown before us. Therefore we thank God for you. Thank God for your Congregation.” he said.
“I experience God’s love abundantly. Even today, from all these things, I experience only God’s love. I have experienced how much God loves me at every stage of my life since childhood. Today, on the day I celebrate my birthday, through all these things that are done for me, Jesus shows me how much God loves me. I am happy about all these things in which I experience God’s love.” Sister Theonilla told Mojo News.
At the end of the Mass, Sister Theonilla was appreciated by a few short speeches, and Patrick Fernando of the Commemorative Committee representing the Parishioners of Nainamadama village stated that “During her 75 years of service, she extended her hands of mercy to the patients of Maharagama Apeksha Hospital (cancer hospital) as well as giving food and drink to the starving people and the war-torn people in the areas where she worked in all the provinces of the country like Muttur and Trincomalee in the North Eastern Provinces.”
Also, he said, “In that way, we saw firsthand that Sister Theonilla lived a very exemplary and devoted life, leading her whole life in the right way to fulfill the will of God the Father. That’s why we call her the “Saint” of Nainamadama village. That’s why we call her the “Rose flower” of Nainamadama village.”
Everyone got together to cut the birthday cake and celebrate her 100th birthday while singing to her “Happy Birthday dear Sister Theonilla.”
Sr. Mary Theonilla was born on 08.12.1922 at Wewala, Ja-Ela in the Diocese of Colombo to parents Mr. Sebastian Silva and Mrs. Monica Nonis. Sr. Theonilla received her primary school education at St. Francis Xavier Girls’ School, Wewala and she began her vocation on 24.05. 1945 at St. Anne’s Convent, Mangalore, India. She made her first profession on 07.01.1948. Following her education at St. Mary’s convent and Mary Hill Convent Mangalore, she made her final vows on the 25. 05.1953.
After she landed in Sri Lanka, she served as a school teacher St. Anthony’s Girl’s School, Colpetty 1954 – 1966. After serving at several schools, in 1982 she has retired from teaching. After that, she began her humanitarian services at St. Mary’s Convent, Muthur in the Eastern Province. At present, she is resting at Nainamadama St. Faustina Convent after a long service. For 30 years, she has performed a wonderful mission for Nainamadama Parish, where Sister Theonilla currently resides.
