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Religious Name : |
Sister Maria Sheila of the Sacred Heart |
| Maiden Name : | Usha Gladys Mary D'Souza | |
| Religious No : | 1534 | |
| Native Place : | Mangalore | |
| Parish : | St. Sebastian's Church, Bendore | |
| Diocese : | Mangalore Diocese | |
| State : | Karnataka | |
| Date of Birth : | 05.08.1946 | |
| Date of First Profession : | 31.05.1969 | |
| Date of Perpetual Profession : | 08.05.1975 | |
| RIP: | 07-06-2024 |
OBTUARY
SISTER MARIA SHEILA OF THE SACRED HEART
Institute No. 1534
True to her religious name, of The Sacred Heart, Sister Maria Sheila, a devotee of the Sacred Heart, loved Jesus with all her heart, mind, body and soul, surrendered her life into the loving embrace of Jesus, her beloved spouse, on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 2.30 pm on Friday, 7 June 2024 when all her sisters of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation were in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.
“Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heaven burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).
Having laboured relentlessly with dedication and devotion in the vineyard of the Lord, both in India, Australia and East Africa Region, Sister Maria Sheila was called by God at the age of 78 to rest in the loving arms of God for all eternity in the heavenly abode.
Sister Maria Sheila nee Usha Gladys Mary Dsouza comes from a devout and illustrious family. She is the daughter of late John Baptist Dsouza and late Mary Christine Menezes, born on 5 August 1946 in Bendore, Mangalore. She was baptized on 11 August 1946 and received her confirmation on 3 March 1956 in St Sebastian Church, Bendore, Mangalore. She was the fifth among the ten children. Her elder sister, Sr Maria Jyothi AC, popularly known as Mother Teresa of Mangalore spent all her life in loving service of the special children. She continues this noble service even now for the differently-abled adults at Veronica Vihar, Maryhill, Mangalore.
Sister Maria Sheila, imbibed various values and virtues from her parents and siblings. Living in a God fearing family, she experienced a deep love for God, prayerful spirit, trust in God’s mercy and goodness which inspired her to answer God’s call to become an Apostolic Carmel sister. In spite of the opposition of her loved ones, she joined the convent at Maryhill in June 1966 after completing her PUC at St Agnes College. From the moment she committed her life to Jesus, she remained faithful to Him till the end of her life, loving and serving Him with an undivided heart. As a religious sister, she continued to inculcate the same values in all those whom she encountered in the apostolate of education. She was blessed with various graces, gifts and talents. Always with a cheerful countenance, joyful spirit, friendly and jovial nature, she endeared herself to the students, staff and the public.
She rendered her loving and generous services as Headmistress of St Agnes and St Mary's School, Marjil, Mangalore; Carmel School, Jayanagar, Bangalore; Superior of Shanthi Nilaya and Headmistress of Carmel School Nanjangud and Sister in charge of Seva Ashram Pavur. Her missionary zeal and love for the less privileged people, urged her to travel to the distant land of Kenya, East Africa where she worked for fourteen years with great love and zest to spread the kingdom of God as a Superior and Headmistress at Carmelvale convent, Buru Buru and a pioneer at Carmel convent, Malel, Eldoret, Nairobi, Kenya. She had a great love for the poor and she went out of her way to meet their material needs. With a kind and compassionate heart, she offered her services to all who approached her. She would move mountains to get aid for any project of the poor. She could venture into any challenging situations with courage, confidence and determination.
Sister Maria Sheila has left an indelible impressions and pleasant memories in the hearts of all the sisters at Lourdes convent, Bangalore, Carmel Convent, Delhi, Carmel Convent, Woodend, Australia, Seva Ashram Pavur, Presentation convent, Maryhill, St Mary’s convent, Marjil, St Agnes convent, Carmel convent, Ashaniketan, St Ann’s convent, Mangalore, Shanthi Nilaya, Nanjanugd, Carmelvale, Buru Buru and Carmel convent, Malel, Eldoret Kenya, East Africa where she lived. She was very gracious and kind in administering her duties as a minister, bursar and infirmarian in some of these convents.
As a vibrant and lively person, she made the community life happy and joyful with her melodious singing, dance, fun and laughter. Her personality radiated peace and serenity, grace and beauty that emanated from her deep union with God. The sisters in every community with whom she lived, looked up to her, for she was a tower of strength, a pillar of courage and a spring of joy. The sisters as well as her students, staff and parents loved and enjoyed her lively, warm and affectionate company. Though tall, strong and mighty, she was like a child, innocent and candid, beaming with a smile, bubbling with joy. Blessed with outstanding characteristics of simplicity and humility, soft and gentle ways, childlike and guileless attitude, she was always available and approachable to the young and old, rich and poor including officials.
Sister Maria Sheila was suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease for the past five years. She was in and out of Fr Muller hospital for quite a few times during her illness. She was brought to St Mary’s convent, Marjil on 26 April 2024 directly from the hospital for palliative care. Meanwhile she also developed pneumonia. Though she was suffering intensely, no word of complaint escaped her lips nor did she ask for any relief to reduce her sufferings. All we could observe in her was a radiant glow on her face, eyes fixed on Jesus with a complete resignation to God’s will.
She was anointed by Rev. Fr Bonaventure Nazareth, our parish priest on Tuesday, 4 June as her health was deteriorating. The next day she was shifted to Fr Muller hospital for better facilities to ease her pain. On the following day she was taken to the ICU as she was not responding to any medication. All her pain and agony came to an end as she offered her life peacefully to her Beloved Lord, like a loving oblation on the Feast of the Sacred heart of Jesus on Friday, 7 June 2024.
The mortal remains of our dear Sister Maria Sheila were laid in the chapel, St Mary’s convent on Sunday, 9 June at 1.00 pm. Her family members, AC sisters from local convents, AC Associates, the differently-abled children from Veronica Vihar and the neighbours came to pay their last respects to her. At 2.15 pm Fr Robin Santhumayer, the Asst. Parish Priest of our Lady of Miracles, Milagres blessed the mortal remains and the funeral cortege wended its way to Our Lady of Miracles church, Milagres, Mangalore. The Requiem Mass offered at 3.00 pm by Emeritus Bishop, Aloysius Paul D’Souza, as the main celebrant along with six other priests. Rev. Fr Melwin Pinto, Rector, St Aloysius preached a meaningful homily. The church was packed to capacity with our AC sisters from different communities of our province and other provinces, sisters of other congregations, novices, candidates, aspirants, ACAs, the family members and relatives, friends and students of our dear Sister Maria Sheila including the parishioners of Milagres and Bendore. After the eulogy and the funeral rites, Sister Maria Sheila was laid to rest in our Lady of Miracles Church Cemetery. May God grant her eternal bliss and number her among the saints and the angels in heaven.
We are grateful to Emeritus Bishop, Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the main celebrant and all the concelebrants for praying for our dear Sister Maria Sheila. We express our gratitude to Rev. Fr Bonaventure Nazareth and Fr. Robin Santhumayer, the Asst. Priest and all the parish clergy for all the help and support rendered especially at the funeral service. We are indebted to Fr Muller Hospital staff, doctors and nurses especially Drs Glen Fernandes, Roydon and Hemant who attended on her with loving care. We are also grateful to the caretakers: Jacintha and Jenevive for assisting Sister Maria Sheila during her last days. We acknowledge with gratitude all the family members who visited her, offered comfort and solace in her pain and suffering especially her sisters: Sr Maria Jyothi and Birdie. We remain grateful to Sr Nirmalini, our Superior General, Sr Shamita, our Provincial Superior and their teams for their prayerful support, care and concern. We are grateful to Sr Linette, Asst. Superior General who made it possible to attend the funeral ceremony. We offer our thanks to Sr Maria Kripa, our Superior who took immense care during her illness and every sister of our community for praying constantly at her bed side and assisting in all her needs.
Dear Sister Maria Sheila, we bid a loving adieu to you, on behalf of all the Sisters of the AC family, especially, Sister Maria Kripa, our superior and the sisters of our community at St Mary’s Marjil, Falnir, Mangalore. We shall we meet again in that heavenly Jerusalem. Pray for all of us, your sisters, dear and near ones and all your friends. May God grant you eternal bliss.
BIO DATA
Name in Religion: Sister Maria Sheila of the Sacred Heart
Institute No.: 1534
Maiden Name: Usha Gladys Mary Dsouza
Date of Birth: 05-08-1946
Admission to Postulancy: 14-06-1966
First Commitment: 31-05-1969
Perpetual Profession: 08-05-1975
Date of Decease: 07-06-2024
Date of Burial: 09-06-2024
Place of Burial: Our Lady of Miracle Church, Milagres, Mangalore, Cemetery
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