David Schembri
‘She was a saint’
Sister Victoria Camilleri and another two nuns died in a car crash in Israel on Christmas Eve.
Sister Victoria Camilleri, known as Sr Salvatorina, who was killed in a car accident in Israel on Christmas Eve, was described as a “saint” by a nun from her convent.
The accident, which killed another two nuns and injured two, sent the Catholic Church in Jerusalem into mourning at a normally joyful time when Christ’s birth is celebrated.
“She was a saintly sister, a good sister, a prayerful sister – she was very dear to us,” Sr Luisa, a Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary said tearfully over the phone.
Sr Luisa, who had known Sr Salvatorina ever since she was 15 and lived in Jordan, lives in the nearby convent in Tabgha, a five-minute drive away from the convent where Sr Salvatorina lived and worked in the Shrine of the Beatitudes.
Just before the accident happened, they had bid each other farewell as they went their separate ways, Sr Salvatorina to Bethlehem and Sr Luisa to Haifa.
The car she was in hit the concrete base of an electricity pole at Yarden Junction, in the northern city of Beit She’an. According to Sr Luisa, “the car wasn’t going very fast” and the accident happened when the Provincial Superior Sr Maria Rosanna Nava, who was driving, “felt sick” and lost control of the vehicle.
Initial media reports said the three nuns who were killed were Italians, however Maltese Ambassador to Israel Abraham Borg confirmed Sr Camilleri was in fact Maltese when the police called him, as he had been involved in issuing her passport.
Sr Ranya from Jordan, just 35, and Sr Valeria from Italy also died in the crash.
Sr Salvatorina used to do her best to serve pilgrims – especially if they were Maltese. “When a Maltese group used to turn up, she used to make sure to organise things properly for them, and used to ask about what was happening in Malta,” Dr Borg said.
Andrew Consiglio, who has often led tours to the Holy Land, said she was a “very sweet” nun who “was always very welcoming and always very pleased to see a Maltese group, and would ask us about Malta”.
“She was a very humble nun and she was very obedient,” Maria Debono, Sr Salvatorina’s niece, told The Times.
Since she met a lot of pilgrims, “a lot of people from Mellieħa who had been to Israel would come to say they saw my aunt.
“She used to visit Malta every two years – she would have been back next summer,” Ms Debono said.
The funeral will take place in Jerusalem on Wednesday at 3 p.m., but Ms Debono won’t be going down to pay her last tributes: “I couldn’t handle it, it’s too cruel. But she was a very humble nun... a saint”.
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Fr Leslie Gatt OSA
Dec 28th 2010, 08:56
I got to know Sr. Salvatorina, (or my 'cousin Vivi' as she used to sign her letters) some years ago being my Grandmother's cousin. I used to appreceate her continous concern about me and our family asking about my relatives but also about my vocation, my studies, my pastoral ministry... She used to ask for me to various pilgrims who happen to be in Israel and sent souveniers which today I treasure much more. Whenever I met her, I was always overwhelmed and inspired by her humble, simple and almost timid personality - a genuine woman of God. Since we celebrated her sister's 50th anniversary in religious life two years ago, she used to remind me that our next occasion will now be hers. Unfortunately she will not celebrate it with us!
Last week, I received that which has to be her last letter concluding with a sicere wish that Baby Jesus Keep us 'under His arms'. I have no doubt that this year she enjoyed this experience of being so close to Him - 'in His arms' - on Christmas Day! Good bye dear 'cousin' and enjoy the eternal rest which you definately deserve! Pray for us!
Lawrence Civelli
Dec 27th 2010, 21:05
We were very sad to hear about the tragic accident of sister Victoria Camilleri, Me and my wife met her at the Church of the Eight Beatitudes in the Holy Land in O7, she came talked to Us when she heard us talk maltese in a group from the states,when we were looking to buy some souveniers. We extend our condolences to the family ,we cherish the pictures we have with her in front of the church. May She rest in peace
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Dec 27th 2010, 16:23
For all those who knew Sr Salvatorina, I would like to share my recent experience.
I met Sr Salvatorina when with a Maltese group led by Edward Spiteri and Fr Philip Cutajar went to the Eight Beatitudes in the Holy Land.This was last May. She was delighted to meet us and although she is from Mellieha, she asked whether there was anyone from Valleta.
Being born in Valletta she quickly made her day by telling me that she is related to the GAUCI FAIMILY better known as tac CORMA. We exchanged family experiences and past memories of that Valletta area. I used to play football for Valletta FC with two of the Gauci family Paul and Vince (Censu}.
I quickly went through a video hoping that I have some reference of Sr Salvatorina and much to my delight I discovered quite a good filming of her talking to the group.
How could such a personality end up in such tragic circumstances?
I treasure my CD more than ever and wish all their close family a prosperous new year thinking about Sr Salvatorina praying for us from Heaven.
GOD BLESS HER SOUL
J Farrugia
Dec 27th 2010, 13:30
my condolences to her family. Even if she was miles away from our country, she was one of the few good ambassadors of true peace for our country who worked in the field of the Lord. May she rest in peace now that she is with Her Lord, to reap the reward of all her good work.
Max Farrugia
Dec 27th 2010, 13:08
The last time I met sister Salvatorina during a dinner organised by the Ghaqda tat-trasport tal-Morda. She was in Malta visiting relatives. In August she went to Lourdes with this organisation. I met her by accident. She happened to know my daughter and her husband. She needed a lift after the dinne and since we were going to St. Paul's bay we decided to give her a lift. She is a saintly nun, full of joy, and always ready to help others. May she rest in peace.