The Witness of Three Catholic Maltese Ursuline Nuns

Acouple of months ago, three Catholic Maltese Ursuline Nuns were invited to witness their life and mission with a group of Form 4 (Year 10) students at St. Margaret College Senior Secondary School Verdala, Cospicua. This event was organised in coordination with the Ursuline Religious Order of Malta. The shared experience of Sister Paula Schembri (41 years old), Sister Monica Vella (36 years old) and Sister Josette Farrugia (44 years old) fascinated all the participating students.

The Ursuline Sisters were inspired by St Angela Merici who directed a number of young women, known as ‘The Company of St Ursula’, for 70 years. The congregation was subsequently set up in Malta by Msgr Isidoro dei Conti Formosa in 1887 with the aim of taking care of poor and abandoned children. The Ursuline Homes in Malta provide residence to children who are unable to live with their family. The nuns strive to create a healthy environment in which children can grow holistically in a safe and professionally sustained environment. Through constant love and understanding, the nuns seek to realize the full potential of their children, with the aim for them to reintegrate into their family and/ or community as healthy, happy, responsible and independent adults.

During this session, the three nuns shared some words about their life and vocation.

Sr Paula is from Siggiewi and her aim in joining the Ursuline Sisters was to dedicate her life to God and to the children in need.

Presently she is stationed at the Ursuline Home in Gwardamangia and she is responsible for 8 children. Before joining the Ursuline Nuns she was a Home Economics teacher in a Church School in Malta.

Sr Monica is from Sliema and she joined the Ursuline Sisters at the age of 16. She is also taking care of a group of children at the Ursuline Sisters’ Home.

On the other hand, Sr Josette from Qormi is a late vocation and before entering the Ursuline Sisters Order she was a factory supervisor and she loved travelling a lot.

The sisters were asked: “Who is Jesus to you?”

“Jesus is the ONE who accepts me as I am with all my ups and downs,” said Sr Paula. Sr Monica replied: “Jesus is the air that I breathe and without Him I am nothing,” and Sr Josette said: “Jesus is my JOY and my ENTHUSIASM.”

Then the nuns were asked to share a funny experience in their life and Sr Monica told the students a recent experience about taking a group of nuns to Gozo with the convent van. Before they left the convent the van’s engine could hardly start, but luckily they managed to drive safely to Ċirkewwa from where they all embarked the ferry ship to Gozo. Then, when they arrived in Mġarr port, Gozo, the van’s engine was unable to start and: “... you can imagine the chaos that we created in the ferry ship until the van was clamped up and all the other vehicles could disembark the ship!”

The three nuns also shared the joy of their community’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest which had the blessing of the Maltese bishops and the song’s message caught the attention of many Eurovision spectators. “Inviting our school students to experience the life of these three young Maltese nuns left an imprint in the heart and mind of our participating students. Our youths need role models and good ones so they can grow up to be honest and exemplary citizens,” said Mr Martin Azzopardi s.d.c.

This project aims to reach two of the main goals proposed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Life on Land and Quality Education. Heartfelt thanks to the three nuns who accepted the school invitation and to the school spiritual director Fr Carmelo Spiteri o.c.d who gladly attended the session.