Optimistic nun stands firm before fewer vocations and eroding values

Dwindling vocations and eroding values fail to dishearten the newly-appointed provincial of the Sisters of St Dorothy's congregation in Malta and England.

Sr Doreen Cuschieri's infectious optimism gives her the strength to face the new three-year challenge, and her first goal is to strengthen the bond between the nuns to approach society with a common message.

Her nomination ceremony will be held tomorrow at the Sliema convent, but despite taking on this position she will retain her post as headmistress of the St Dorothy's senior school, in Zebbug.

As provincial she is responsible for the Maltese congregation and two others in England - in Frogmill, where the nuns run a student hostel, and Redhill, where they dedicate time to parish work.

Having entered the congregation 43 years ago at the age of 16, Sr Doreen, with her joie de vivre, has been a mentor for numerous students who came in contact with her throughout the years. Many have sought her guidance and she tries to practise an open-door policy, even though at times she has to put up her do not disturb sign to get some work done.

She truly believes that the nuns, today more than ever, have an important role to play in girls' education, even though many seem to shun catholic values.

"Though the girls may not care about being part of a Church school at this point in time, I think later on it will serve them in good stead," she said in an interview.

"We get old girls coming back to thank us for the good attitude and spirit that the sisters have instilled in them, so it's encouraging."

However, despite the feedback the congregation is concerned about the diminishing values of young students, a reflection of what's happening in society.

Sr Doreen said that over the past five years the number of counsellors in the school increased to two and all teachers are going into guidance to be able to counsel students. "They're always fully booked. The most common problem children are battling with is their parents' separation. They seek help at an age when they start evaluating what the true values are and realise something is wrong," she said.

"They are confused because their loved ones are not the ideal they thought they were and they're deeply hurt, often entering into a crisis. We are witnessing more than ever a situation of bullying and eating disorders.

"They come to school and learn one thing and go home and witness another. They come to us asking whether their parents, who may be separated, are living in sin. Sometimes they tell us they stay out late at night because they are scared of going to an empty house and their parents are still out partying," she said.

Sr Doreen said she was worried that parents were preferring to shower their children with money instead of spending quality time with them. She felt that family values were really eroding and at times non-existent.

She believes the present situation is what is leading to the dwindling number of vocations.

"We're advertising chastity, poverty and obedience; the complete opposite of what the world is offering. For children to give up riches nowadays seems foolish and they're not willing to be challenged for a greater option," she said.

"The world's shimmering is too bright to choose a religious life. It needs a lot of strength and clarity of mind, which is often lacking."

At the moment the number of the congregation's nuns in Malta stands at 36, with the youngest aged 59. However, Sr Doreen is not disheartened, believing that it's not quantity that matters.

In fact, she is planning to work hard on building the congregation's roots in very solid ground and creating more unity among them so that they will be able to face one front together.

"If we pool our strengths to manifest who the woman religious is we will be able to ensure they have a normal place in society. We are normal citizens looking onto a promising future, despite the dwindling vocations."