Sister Marian Teresa Gomes, CSC
(1935 - June 25, 2011)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on May 16, 2011 in Saint Mary's Convent.
Word has been received of the very sudden death of Sister Marian Teresa (Gomes) who died in her sleep in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 25, while attending the 2011 International Session in Holy Cross Spirituality in Le Mans, France.
Sister Marian Teresa was a remarkable woman, a leader, a visionary, a compassionate counselor and a deeply spiritual religious. In her leadership role she served as president of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious, as a member of the Episcopal Commission for education and on the Bangladesh Board of Education, to name a few. Added to all of this are her years in internal ministry as an elected member of the congregation’s Leadership Team, as area coordinator for the Area of Asia, plus 38 years as the successful and compassionate principal of Holy Cross College in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
She believed in the necessity of giving religious a strong spiritual foundation and opportunities to grow. To accomplish this goal she established the on-going formation program for all religious under the auspices of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious. She also held the firm conviction that every sister should be well prepared educationally for the work of the mission and so promoted professional study in the appropriate field in which they would minister.
Thoughtful, long range planning were part of her approach to all things in life from the importance of education, to mission establishments, to building projects, to interpersonal relationships. The bit-by-bit purchase of land for the eventual building of a retirement facility for the sisters was a priority for her. The nightly inspection of the compound of Holy Cross in Dhaka gave her the opportunity to converse with the workers, (construction workers regularly live on the grounds at worksites there), to encourage them and to listen to the stories of their lives. This same skill was evident in her relations with the sisters and with the college staff. They used the Bengali term “jononni” (mother) when addressing her or speaking of her because of the empathy she extended to all. She brought out the best in people.
As a religious she was an example of simplicity but she never imposed her ideas or frugality on others. Her sense of humor could relax any tense situation and she enjoyed life as a happy spirit with a touch of adventure in her personality.
As a true daughter of Holy Cross she had a great devotion to the Sorrowful Mother and to the Mass. Having the opportunity to go to France to be at the core of the congregation’s founding was a thrill for her. She was the first native Bengali vocation to the Sisters of the Holy Cross and heightened the awareness of the true internationality of the congregation. Father Moreau was her spiritual friend, she lived the Holy Cross spirituality he espoused and put it into practice in her daily life. Father Moreau must have been pleased to welcome her into the kingdom as a reward for her years of loving service in Holy Cross.
Sister Marian Teresa will be missed in many areas because of her far-reaching involvement in the public and private sectors of education and government in Bangladesh. She unobtrusively made her presence felt whenever there was an issue of social justice or religious freedom being challenged. She was respected and admired for her integrity and forthrightness. May she rest in peace.