Sr Christina Debono

Margaret Psaila writes:

Sr Christina is no longer with us. She is now enjoying the joy of the kingdom of Heaven, for indeed she was one who was poor in spirit and pure of heart.

Whoever was present at Sr Christina’s funeral Mass surely shared Fr Jimmy Bonnici’s thoughts on her.

The Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart, her family, those who knew her as a young nun at Mater Admirabilis Training College, colleagues and past pupils of the Sacred Heart Junior School, and so many others to whom she offered a helping hand after her retirement will long remember Sr Christina as one with tremendous love for others and a genuinelycaring nature.

As a Year 1 teacher, she was just like a mother not only in class but till the end of the day while waiting on the playground for the mothers to collect their children.

Until recently she still showed concern for many of her ex-pupils and prayed for them lovingly in spite of her sufferings.

She was a real educator who believed so much in empowering children for life and ensuring they would learn to read.

After she retired, she supported the school’s reading programme by regularly listening to children reading.

Sr Christina also found time to offer her services at the Duchesne Children’s Library, St Julian’s, and when she moved to Tal-Virtù she still kept in touch with the library and meticulously processed the new books for use.

It is sad to part with a precious person like Sr Christina, but heartening to keep in mind that her great suffering is now over and that the Sacred Heart of Jesus has called out loudly, “Come Christina, I await you with open arms.”

May her community and family find consolation in the fact that she is now close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.