Richard Matrenza writes:

I came to know her in the 1980s. Organised religion did not come into our friendship. Our relationship was born and built on our different aspects and interpretation of Christian charity, altruism and love of mankind, especially for the young and defenceless members of society who some abandon or prefer to shirk their responsibility for by passing this onus onto others.

And this is where and when Madre Maria came into the picture and my life at Ursula House, in Guardamangia, later in the sisters’ home in Sliema. Subsequently, when she eventually relinquished her official position – but was still referred to as Madre – circumstances necessitated that she moved to the sisters’ home in Żabbar.

Our personal direct human encounter had changed to sporadic telephone contacts. Not by design but because of circumstances. I had come to learn that she had to undergo a serious medical procedure. Perhaps here I had failed her not to go to Żabbar. She never complained. Her voice continued to sound jovial.

I never knew her worldly background, her pedigree, her origins or her affiliations. I never asked nor trawled. To me, Madre Maria was just herself, a jovial, healthy in mind individual, dedicated to her chosen vocation.

Madre Maria’s philanthropy was not an academic exercise. What came across was that selfless love for others not because of the tenets of the Order of nuns that she had joined but for her inner human warmth.

I shall not be able to call her on the telephone come Christmas this year.

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