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| Sunday, 12 September 2004 |
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Sister Maria Crooze : 50 years of silent service One afternoon two sisters visited my office to look for employment for two poor youths of the area as they were the family breadwinners. Of the two nuns, one was Sri Lankan, whilst the other was a foreigner. Both were attached to Clera Convent of St. Ignatius Church, Ampara. When I asked the foreign nun regarding the social work she did in Sri Lanka, at first she declined to comment but on further appealing, the 73-year-old sister, explained the social work done by her on the healing of 'Leprosy patients'. Few days later, I visited the church and requested her to brief me further on her mission in Sri Lanka. At first she refused to speak and said that her service was solely to please God, and none else. But later she agreed to speak so that it would be an inspiration to the present day youth to be involved in similar social activities. Born in a remote village called 'Arrigorriaga' in Spain on July 7, 1931 as the second child of a family of ten sisters and brothers, Sister Maria Crooze was a very calm, quiet and obedient child. Her father was a soldier, while her mother looked after the domestic affairs in the village. She studied in the village Christian School and completed her education at the age of 16. Thereafter she groomed herself in the field of needle work, cooking, general house-keeping and assisted her mother in various ways, till she reached her 19th birthday, at which age, she sensed the calling of Jesus Christ. On a chilly morning on June 11, 1951 she made her decision and bid farewell to her family life, leaving behind the love of her parents and her brothers and sisters and made her way towards the unknown destiny prepared for her by the Lord. Ordained Accordingly, she chose the toughest and narrowest road and entered the door way of the Pre-Novished Monastery for Nuns, which was located in 'Vizcaya' a town in close proximity to her village. This enabled her to visit her parents, and brothers and sisters once a month. She was ordained on December 15, 1951 as a 'Nun', and was assigned the supervision of the farm and animal husbandry works, domestic affairs pertinent to the monastery, under the guidance of the Mother Superior. Sister Maria also had the opportunity to acquaint herself with the basic medical treatment performed on Leprosy patients to a considerable extent. From the time she entered the Monastery, which accommodated over 200 sisters. Sister Maria had been under the careful guidance of Mother Superior, who took special care to improve her studies. Exemplary character Having witnessed the exemplary character and flexibility in carrying out her duties even at trying circumstances, the Mother Superior decided to send Sister Maria to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, which was in dire need of her services, along with Sister Maria six more nuns were chosen for the mission. Sister Maria placed her first foot-step on the unknown shores of Sri Lanka on September 14, 1954, worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ and invoked the heavenly blessings on the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Initial Her initial assignment was at the Convent of Our Lady of Victories under the purview of 'Moratuwa Mission' to look after children in the orphanage. With the assistance of a nun, Sister Maria Crooze became the mother of around 30-35 orphan children. These unfortunate situations moved her to give selfless service to the children and adults especially those suffering from leprosy. Destitute Although her aim was far reaching, she continued her services unstintingly, helping the under-privileged, the destitute and outcasts, in Piliyandala, Hatton and Bandarawela. She met the first Leprosy patient at Bandarawela, who had been under her medical care, and had been surprisingly cured. However, her dream became a reality, when she was moved to Batticaloa in mid 1987, where she had the option of providing medical treatment to Leprosy Patients at the only Leprosy Hospital in Sri Lanka, located at the tiny atoll of Mantivu. Many patients who were once rejected as untouchables and isolated in the island came in contact with her and were miraculously cured, enabling them to re-join their once rejected home. She travelled in a small boat from Batticaloa to Mantivu amidst rough seas to treat the leprosy patients. Silent Service Having rendered almost ten years of service in Batticaloa to the Leprosy patients in the Mantivu Island, she moved to Ampara on January 25, 1997 and made 'Clara Convent' attached to the Church of St. Ignatious her home. She has continued with her silent service to all who come in contact with her irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion. Now, Sister Maria Crooze has reached the age of three score and thirteen (73 years) and with a charming smile, reveals that her 50 years of silent service to the nation, was possible through the Love of God which has had no barrier towards language, caste, creed, race or religion. Still hale and hearty Sister Maria vows to continue with her service in the same manner as in the past, walking miles into the villages, house to house seeking the unloved and leprosy riddled human beings to console the body and soul. She has run the race set before her and the Lord Almighty has prepared the Crown to adorn her at eternity. - Migara From Ampara. |
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