My Great Aunt. One of three blood sisters to enter the Society of the Sacred Heart, this is her story.
Sister Maria, then in her eighties, and her friend Anita were in a Portsmouth shoe shop. Maria had on a pair of shoes that were obviously too large, in fact there was a gap of about 10 cms between her heel and the back of the shoe. Maria wanted these shoes. "But Maria, they are much too big. There is even a gap at the back". "I do not look behind, I look in front". This reply summoned up Maria's life.
Her elder sister, Teresa, who outlived her by two years, recalled their childhood in her memories. Their father, Nicola Orlando married a second time after his much loved first wife - who had born him four children, of whom only two survived, Peter and Giovanna - died. Heartbroken, he found it impossible to work and care for the young children. His second wife, Euphemia Tonna had no formal education but was naturally gifted, who recognizing her latent talents, developed them in herself and her family. Maria was the second youngest child of this second marriage. Catherine was the eldest, then followed two boys, one of whom died very young. Teresa was the second girl, Maria two years later, and finally Marcello who eventually emigrated to Australia. Thus it was that Maria was baptized at St. Catherine's Parish in Zejtun the day after she was born on April 9, 1910, receiving the names Maria, Angelina, Giuseppa, Antonina. Her parents had to work hard in order to make ends meet. Education was important, at least for the boys. Their father was a blacksmith, skilled in designing gates, tables and other pieces of ironwork. When each of his daughters reached a certain age he made her a delicate chain, just the right size.
Their mother had a sweet shop which she ran beautifully despite being unable to write or read and possessing no accountancy skills. She would buy a sack or two of sugar, divide it into portions and sell it. Catherine and her mother used to rise very early and bake bread for the early shoppers. Teresa and Maria were only allowed to help when they reached a reasonable age. Meantime, their contribution was lace making.
Maria was very small for her age, dark skinned and teased on account of this by her siblings, who were fair and large. Before school age she was sent to live with her aunt Carmena, an unmarried teacher, who gave her a good basic education. She visited her own family occasionally, but never felt that she fitted into the home sitting. However she was happy living with her aunt.
It seemed that she returned home, however, possibly after Teresa went to school, because she used to describe how she helped out in the shop, enjoying the limitless supply of sweets, which accounts for her enduringly strong attraction for them! Maria had very little formal schooling, only attending school for a year at the age of nine. She wasn't keen on going, and her mother found it useful to have her at home. As she grew older, and her mother became infirm, she nursed her, recalling in her later years, that her mother would only allow her to do anything for her, despite that her sister had some nursing training.
Making her First Communion and being confirmed on June 15, 1919, at St. Catherine's in Zejtun, we have no actual record of when exactly Maria first felt the desire to give herself to God in the Society of the Sacred Heart. Possibly Catherine's entrance had something to do with it. All we do know is that by the time Teresa entered, Maria was eager to do so as well, but was too young. However the day came when Catherine was told she was to go to Japan. Was there anything she wanted before she went? Yes. To see her sister Maria in the Society. Maria was sent for and with no further ado, she came. Her mother sent to the orphanage for a girl, have her Maria's clothes and room. Maria was replaced!
It was on February 4, 1927, that Maria entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at St. Julian's. Eventually her birth certificate was sent to the Convent, and to their horror, her Superiors discovered that she was only 17. It would be cruel to send her home again, and beside the error was theirs. To get round this, her noviceship and aspirantship were extended, so that she received the habit on January 5, 1928, and made her First Vows on July 28, 1930. Her Mistress of Novices was Mother Gertrude Smith and Maria used to say was very kind of her. Apparently when first she entered was unable to eat the food provide and this began to cause concern. The fact was that Maria had been used to living on a diet of sweets and chocolate in the shop! Mother Smith discovered this, and made a bargain with Maria that if she managed to eat her meal, she could come afterwards and received a chocolate by way of reward. Thus a vocation was saved.
It was on July 28, 1930, that Maria made her
First Vows and received the news that she was to go to England for which she set sail five days later. She was never again to live in Malta, although she had the opportunity to do so over sixty years later, but she turned it down as the climate did not suit her.
Arriving in England, she spent two years first in West Hill, Brighton and Roehampton, working as second cook in each place. Moving from there to St. Charles still as second cook, she had the job of Caller added to her responsibilities. One needs to bear in mind that in those days work in the kitchen was a seven days a week job and being caller necessitated getting up half an hour before everyone else. Maria took a keen and intelligent interest in her work, learning all she could. There was a certain head cook under whom she worked however, who was very unwilling to share any of her recipes. However she reckoned with the ingenuity of Maria, who would casually ask for the quantity of a certain ingredient, memorize it and wait until another opportunity to ask the quantity of something else. Like this Maria got quietly all the information she wanted, and her informant was totally unaware that she gradually divulged all her recipes. It was at St. Charles during the latter half of 1936 that Maria made her Probation, under to tutelage and guidance of Mother Catto.
On March 15, 1937, Maria was finally professed, the Mass being celebrated by a Maltese Benedictine, Father Agius. Having kept all her retreat resolutions in a spare notebook over the years, one can find her entry to her retreat prior to her profession. "To have a great personal love of Our Lord. It shows itself in seeing God's Person In my Mothers and Sisters, and in orders given and in taken things nicely and say yes with a smile". The English has not been corrected in this quotation. We must remember that Maria would have learnt most of her English orally, she wrote as she heard, be that as it may, those who knew Maria would surely recognize her "yes" accompanied by a beautiful smile as being a characteristic throughout her life.
As a newly professed Maria was sent in 1937, to Tunbridge Wells, this time as First Cook, now having to take responsibility for the running of the kitchen and advising of stores etc. that need to be ordered. War started, and with it rationing…and a school full of hungry girls to feed. 1940 saw the evacuation of the school to Albrighton Halls near the Welsh border. It was here, that she was in the Community with Sr. Kay Killoran, and as they worked together in the kitchen they developed a lifelong friendship.
"I first met Maria when she came to make the community retreat in Roehampton. At our recreation she asked, ‘Who is Sr. Killoran?' ‘Here I am', I replied, and to the Mother Assistant's amazement she accounted, ‘Oh your bed in made in Tunbridge Wells'. Obediences in those days were rather solemn, and you received them on your knees! Little did I know that I was to spend the next six years with her in the kitchen. They were very happy ones, and, unlike her experiences of obtaining recipes, she made sure I received all hers. Five of the years were during the war in Albrighton Hall, Shropshire. She was a genius at inventing recipes and coping with all the substitutes war demanded; but the results of her achievements flowed her constant prayer. We had many a good laugh. I could write a book, and it would be a bestseller. We learned the poem Emmanuel's Land, but changed one line: ‘Oh if one soul from Albrighton will meet me at God's right hand my heaven will be two heavens in Emmanuel's Land'. It was lovely to spend the last two years of her life together in Duchesne, where he laughed and reminisced, and prayed. Thank you Maria, for your faithful friendship".
Of this time Maria used to recall how she and Kay struggled to make the meat ration go round, and how they would slice the meat together, and the one praying fervently aloud, and the other counting the slices. "We always had just enough", Maria used to say. Another of her anecdotes of this time involved a request from the Mother Assistant that Maria provided brown bread for the community one day. The fact was that brown flour was not made during the war - all the flour was a non-specific grey. As far as Maria was concerned however, brown bread had been asked for, and brown bread they should have, so she added some gravy browning to the dough and the Community had the brown bread! This was a recipe that Maria did not reveal at the time, but it is an example of the advice she gave to Kay, "Always remember, the eye eats first".
By now Maria had worked for almost sixteen years in the kitchen and the long hours standing caused her health to deteriorate. Whenever she had to spend a day in bed, she worked hard to leave everything prepared for Kay. However the day came when the doctor told her Superior, Mother Frances Allpress that she must leave the employment "unless the Society wished to kill her". Thus it was that in 1944, Maria, moving back with the Community to Tunbridge Wells, and was given the Dispense, a much lighter employment, but a demanding one also.
1948 found her at Hammersmith working in the community linen room. She used to make lace at recreation, a skill she had learned as a child at home. Once, many years later, when her friend Anita proudly showed her a lace bookmark she had managed to make, Maria looked carefully at it, and said with devastating frankness, "a very easy pattern". Still working mostly in the linen room she moved between West Hill, Newcastle, Hammersmith and back to West Hill until 1975, then aged 65, she went as one of the founder members of the Cosham Community and there she was to stay for 22 years. The late Sr. Margaret Ritchie recalled, "Maria worked and, one is sure, prayed with devotion. She fulfilled St. Paul's admonition with happiness. A young woman can devote herself to making sure that everything is as it should be and that she gave her undivided attention to the Lord. She was very careful to give her very best at all times, whether as refectorian, seeing to visitors needs, or any practical work, and she was punctilious in her fidelity to prayer. In the early days at Cosham there was Benediction on Sunday afternoons in the Parish Church. Sr. Bugeja and Maria always started to walk to the church in the very good time, for they would never, on any account, be late. In later years, Maria was driven to church for Mass, and the priest would see her arrive from a presbytery window. He commented on the speed of her approach and her attention on the church and with never a pause she sped in a beeline to prayer in the church.
Maria always loved an outing. In her early days at Cosham she was able to get out and about quite a lot. She and Sr. Emma Lillie used to make for the local teashop for tea and cakes when the rest of the Community were up in London at meetings. Another ploy was to go off with Sr. Bugeja to Southsea where they would enjoy themselves watching the various machines in the amusement arcade. In fact she never lost this fascination. Sr. Clary Betzler recalls, "I have lived for many years here at Cosham with Maria, and would like to add her love of going out with me on my outings. The one I remember extra well is when riving at the ferry for the Isle of Wight we saw the Solent speckled with white triangles and asked ourselves what it could be. On the ferry we could see better, and realized it was hundreds of little yachts, so I suggested that we go to Cowes for a closer look. We had arrived for Cowes Weekend! A never to be forgotten sight. And how Maria enjoyed it!"
In later years, when Maria, too crippled with arthritis, was unable to get out on her own, if a Sister would ask her if she would like to join her on going shopping, she would be down at the door before she could get there! Having been at Duchesne for some time, and being a bit depressed, the Sisters invited her to visit the new community at White City. The flat being on the first floor, and Maria not having been able to use stairs for at least two years, she was nonetheless eager to try. Now the entry staircase to the flats is not its most attractive feature and as Maria maneuvered up the stairs, her fellow Sisters heard her murmur "there is no carpet!"
Maria had a great gift for friendship, the result of a very loving heart. She had many friends and with each her relationship was unique. She and Sr. Carmela Ganado were real "buddies". One day her bedroom was to be decorated, the then Superior decided this would be an opportunity to clear out some of the objects of piety that had accumulated over the years. Maria bundled cherished possessions into various shoe boxes and took them across the corridor to Carmela's room where they were stashed under her bed. Of course they resurfaced when the room was decorated!
She was a faithful correspondent keeping in touch with her sisters and relatives in Malta and Australia. When Sr. Barbara Porter was out in Uganda she wrote regularly to her. Fortunately, Barbara kept her letters because they reveal her inimitable style "…it is good of you to write to me knowing you are very busy I prayed much for you during my midnight Mass celebrated early at 8 pm and the church was crowded the children had theirs in privet then they came in for the blessing of the crib and brought the baby Jesus it was lovely Mass joined by carols and it was all over by 10 after we met for hot drinks and Christmas pies we also had German biscuits…" One gets quite breathless owing to the total lack of punctuation, but this does not prevent her from conveying how perceptive she was of both events and human nature. She knew the ‘little ways' of each member of the Community but did not comment. However if anyone needed anything she knew exactly what she would like. This keen observation came as a surprise to many, including myself, as by the time I knew her she was bent with arthritis and fairly deaf, but I soon found she missed nothing and thus could forestall everyone's needs!
There were numerous people and intentions that Maria would pray earnestly for. As Maria confidently remarked one day "God always grants my prayers".
Maria was a "community person", taking part in community prayer and reflection and sharing in the work of the house. She took responsibility for her duties very seriously. She was very perceptive, discreet, and had a sense of humour. She was very good with her hands, and produced beautiful knitted things for her friends, charity or bazaars. As Maria grew older in her life, work, prayer, and self-giving, having lived through many years when silence, she had come to the stage of a naturally silent person. However, when the right moment presented itself, she regaled the Community with stories of her youthful exploits. She was ready to cap an argument or remark with a word of wisdom of the Maria Orlando variety. During this period there was a meeting for prayer and review of the events of the week, personal and communal. Her fellow Sisters were always impressed by her down to earth honesty and the simplicity with which she shared her thought and prayers. At this stage of her life, she was frail, with many infirmities, needing watchful care which she accepted with matter of fact simplicity. Before dinner each day she would be seen praying in the chapel, then out she went to the dining room to supervise the dishes and see that everything was in order. She had no use for prolonged conversations, a meal was for eating, so when it seemed to her that it was time to move, she would rise from her place, quietly removing glassed, and giving other hints. Maria's zest for life never left her. She was always ready for an outgoing which was enjoyed, especially visits to the sea front. She appreciated the scenery, but it must be said that she showed a marked preference for the slot machines on the pier.
Another of Maria's characteristic was her love of flowers and pretty things. To walk around the garden was something she loved and when at Cosham she was no longer able to do this, she loved the little vases of flows that Sr. Josephine Heywood would bring for her. She was delighted to receive a floral patterned duvet for her bed amongst her jubilee presents, taking it with her to Duchesne. Furthermore, when taken out for shopping, she knew without hesitation which dresses she liked.
Maria celebrated not only her Golden but also her Diamond Jubilee at Cosham and loved every minute of both occasions for which the parish turned out in force. As part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, Maria went to Lourdes in a wheelchair, together with Sr. Sciberras and loved it. She had always had a great devotion to Our Lady.
In 1997, Maria asked to visit Malta to see her Sister Teresa, and surprised the Community when she wanted to go again the next year. This she did. For both these visits she spent weeks beforehand carefully acquiring little presents to give to us, her young relatives. After the second visit however, she sadly acknowledged that she did not feel she would have the strength to go again.
This time came when Maria's increasing frailty necessitated a move to Duchesne. In next to no time there she had found little ‘jobs' helping to staff. She had always had a characteristic of silently appearing when there was something she could help out. Not long before the end of her life, recovering from a broken hip and walking with a zimmer, when the laundry machine broke, and staff had gone off sick, leaving Kaye to cope with a large share of work, Maria quietly appeared to help her friend.
Among her possessions were many notebooks of retreat notes, dating back over the years. They were not her personal thoughts, but notes of the conferences given so they give no insight into her spirituality. However she had, each evening, her copy of the Society manual of prayers in her hand, and beside her bed, a well used, much repaired copy of various Examens. Maria never had any interest in secular books, they bored her, but she read spiritual ones, everyday. One of her favourite was the writings of Juliana of Norwich.
Maria often used to say that she did not think she would live beyond the age of 89, and she proved herself right. Her health deteriorated gradually during the latter part of 1999, until suddenly an obstruction was suspected. Maria was unwilling to go to hospital until Sr. Elaine promised her that unless the doctors felt they could cure her, she would bring her home. So when she returned to Duchesne, all the Sisters knew there was nothing that could be done. Maria in her usual direct way was quickly on her way homewards. One can imagine her arrival in heaven, the whole court coming out to greet her, and Maria, without deviation or hesitation, head down, beetling through the throng, very aware but undistracted, straight for her Lord, where she would straighten up to greet the One she loved…face to face.
Sister Maria, then in her eighties, and her friend Anita were in a Portsmouth shoe shop. Maria had on a pair of shoes that were obviously too large, in fact there was a gap of about 10 cms between her heel and the back of the shoe. Maria wanted these shoes. "But Maria, they are much too big. There is even a gap at the back". "I do not look behind, I look in front". This reply summoned up Maria's life.
Her elder sister, Teresa, who outlived her by two years, recalled their childhood in her memories. Their father, Nicola Orlando married a second time after his much loved first wife - who had born him four children, of whom only two survived, Peter and Giovanna - died. Heartbroken, he found it impossible to work and care for the young children. His second wife, Euphemia Tonna had no formal education but was naturally gifted, who recognizing her latent talents, developed them in herself and her family. Maria was the second youngest child of this second marriage. Catherine was the eldest, then followed two boys, one of whom died very young. Teresa was the second girl, Maria two years later, and finally Marcello who eventually emigrated to Australia. Thus it was that Maria was baptized at St. Catherine's Parish in Zejtun the day after she was born on April 9, 1910, receiving the names Maria, Angelina, Giuseppa, Antonina. Her parents had to work hard in order to make ends meet. Education was important, at least for the boys. Their father was a blacksmith, skilled in designing gates, tables and other pieces of ironwork. When each of his daughters reached a certain age he made her a delicate chain, just the right size.
Their mother had a sweet shop which she ran beautifully despite being unable to write or read and possessing no accountancy skills. She would buy a sack or two of sugar, divide it into portions and sell it. Catherine and her mother used to rise very early and bake bread for the early shoppers. Teresa and Maria were only allowed to help when they reached a reasonable age. Meantime, their contribution was lace making.
Maria was very small for her age, dark skinned and teased on account of this by her siblings, who were fair and large. Before school age she was sent to live with her aunt Carmena, an unmarried teacher, who gave her a good basic education. She visited her own family occasionally, but never felt that she fitted into the home sitting. However she was happy living with her aunt.
It seemed that she returned home, however, possibly after Teresa went to school, because she used to describe how she helped out in the shop, enjoying the limitless supply of sweets, which accounts for her enduringly strong attraction for them! Maria had very little formal schooling, only attending school for a year at the age of nine. She wasn't keen on going, and her mother found it useful to have her at home. As she grew older, and her mother became infirm, she nursed her, recalling in her later years, that her mother would only allow her to do anything for her, despite that her sister had some nursing training.
Making her First Communion and being confirmed on June 15, 1919, at St. Catherine's in Zejtun, we have no actual record of when exactly Maria first felt the desire to give herself to God in the Society of the Sacred Heart. Possibly Catherine's entrance had something to do with it. All we do know is that by the time Teresa entered, Maria was eager to do so as well, but was too young. However the day came when Catherine was told she was to go to Japan. Was there anything she wanted before she went? Yes. To see her sister Maria in the Society. Maria was sent for and with no further ado, she came. Her mother sent to the orphanage for a girl, have her Maria's clothes and room. Maria was replaced!
It was on February 4, 1927, that Maria entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at St. Julian's. Eventually her birth certificate was sent to the Convent, and to their horror, her Superiors discovered that she was only 17. It would be cruel to send her home again, and beside the error was theirs. To get round this, her noviceship and aspirantship were extended, so that she received the habit on January 5, 1928, and made her First Vows on July 28, 1930. Her Mistress of Novices was Mother Gertrude Smith and Maria used to say was very kind of her. Apparently when first she entered was unable to eat the food provide and this began to cause concern. The fact was that Maria had been used to living on a diet of sweets and chocolate in the shop! Mother Smith discovered this, and made a bargain with Maria that if she managed to eat her meal, she could come afterwards and received a chocolate by way of reward. Thus a vocation was saved.
It was on July 28, 1930, that Maria made her
First Vows and received the news that she was to go to England for which she set sail five days later. She was never again to live in Malta, although she had the opportunity to do so over sixty years later, but she turned it down as the climate did not suit her.
Arriving in England, she spent two years first in West Hill, Brighton and Roehampton, working as second cook in each place. Moving from there to St. Charles still as second cook, she had the job of Caller added to her responsibilities. One needs to bear in mind that in those days work in the kitchen was a seven days a week job and being caller necessitated getting up half an hour before everyone else. Maria took a keen and intelligent interest in her work, learning all she could. There was a certain head cook under whom she worked however, who was very unwilling to share any of her recipes. However she reckoned with the ingenuity of Maria, who would casually ask for the quantity of a certain ingredient, memorize it and wait until another opportunity to ask the quantity of something else. Like this Maria got quietly all the information she wanted, and her informant was totally unaware that she gradually divulged all her recipes. It was at St. Charles during the latter half of 1936 that Maria made her Probation, under to tutelage and guidance of Mother Catto.
On March 15, 1937, Maria was finally professed, the Mass being celebrated by a Maltese Benedictine, Father Agius. Having kept all her retreat resolutions in a spare notebook over the years, one can find her entry to her retreat prior to her profession. "To have a great personal love of Our Lord. It shows itself in seeing God's Person In my Mothers and Sisters, and in orders given and in taken things nicely and say yes with a smile". The English has not been corrected in this quotation. We must remember that Maria would have learnt most of her English orally, she wrote as she heard, be that as it may, those who knew Maria would surely recognize her "yes" accompanied by a beautiful smile as being a characteristic throughout her life.
As a newly professed Maria was sent in 1937, to Tunbridge Wells, this time as First Cook, now having to take responsibility for the running of the kitchen and advising of stores etc. that need to be ordered. War started, and with it rationing…and a school full of hungry girls to feed. 1940 saw the evacuation of the school to Albrighton Halls near the Welsh border. It was here, that she was in the Community with Sr. Kay Killoran, and as they worked together in the kitchen they developed a lifelong friendship.
"I first met Maria when she came to make the community retreat in Roehampton. At our recreation she asked, ‘Who is Sr. Killoran?' ‘Here I am', I replied, and to the Mother Assistant's amazement she accounted, ‘Oh your bed in made in Tunbridge Wells'. Obediences in those days were rather solemn, and you received them on your knees! Little did I know that I was to spend the next six years with her in the kitchen. They were very happy ones, and, unlike her experiences of obtaining recipes, she made sure I received all hers. Five of the years were during the war in Albrighton Hall, Shropshire. She was a genius at inventing recipes and coping with all the substitutes war demanded; but the results of her achievements flowed her constant prayer. We had many a good laugh. I could write a book, and it would be a bestseller. We learned the poem Emmanuel's Land, but changed one line: ‘Oh if one soul from Albrighton will meet me at God's right hand my heaven will be two heavens in Emmanuel's Land'. It was lovely to spend the last two years of her life together in Duchesne, where he laughed and reminisced, and prayed. Thank you Maria, for your faithful friendship".
Of this time Maria used to recall how she and Kay struggled to make the meat ration go round, and how they would slice the meat together, and the one praying fervently aloud, and the other counting the slices. "We always had just enough", Maria used to say. Another of her anecdotes of this time involved a request from the Mother Assistant that Maria provided brown bread for the community one day. The fact was that brown flour was not made during the war - all the flour was a non-specific grey. As far as Maria was concerned however, brown bread had been asked for, and brown bread they should have, so she added some gravy browning to the dough and the Community had the brown bread! This was a recipe that Maria did not reveal at the time, but it is an example of the advice she gave to Kay, "Always remember, the eye eats first".
By now Maria had worked for almost sixteen years in the kitchen and the long hours standing caused her health to deteriorate. Whenever she had to spend a day in bed, she worked hard to leave everything prepared for Kay. However the day came when the doctor told her Superior, Mother Frances Allpress that she must leave the employment "unless the Society wished to kill her". Thus it was that in 1944, Maria, moving back with the Community to Tunbridge Wells, and was given the Dispense, a much lighter employment, but a demanding one also.
1948 found her at Hammersmith working in the community linen room. She used to make lace at recreation, a skill she had learned as a child at home. Once, many years later, when her friend Anita proudly showed her a lace bookmark she had managed to make, Maria looked carefully at it, and said with devastating frankness, "a very easy pattern". Still working mostly in the linen room she moved between West Hill, Newcastle, Hammersmith and back to West Hill until 1975, then aged 65, she went as one of the founder members of the Cosham Community and there she was to stay for 22 years. The late Sr. Margaret Ritchie recalled, "Maria worked and, one is sure, prayed with devotion. She fulfilled St. Paul's admonition with happiness. A young woman can devote herself to making sure that everything is as it should be and that she gave her undivided attention to the Lord. She was very careful to give her very best at all times, whether as refectorian, seeing to visitors needs, or any practical work, and she was punctilious in her fidelity to prayer. In the early days at Cosham there was Benediction on Sunday afternoons in the Parish Church. Sr. Bugeja and Maria always started to walk to the church in the very good time, for they would never, on any account, be late. In later years, Maria was driven to church for Mass, and the priest would see her arrive from a presbytery window. He commented on the speed of her approach and her attention on the church and with never a pause she sped in a beeline to prayer in the church.
Maria always loved an outing. In her early days at Cosham she was able to get out and about quite a lot. She and Sr. Emma Lillie used to make for the local teashop for tea and cakes when the rest of the Community were up in London at meetings. Another ploy was to go off with Sr. Bugeja to Southsea where they would enjoy themselves watching the various machines in the amusement arcade. In fact she never lost this fascination. Sr. Clary Betzler recalls, "I have lived for many years here at Cosham with Maria, and would like to add her love of going out with me on my outings. The one I remember extra well is when riving at the ferry for the Isle of Wight we saw the Solent speckled with white triangles and asked ourselves what it could be. On the ferry we could see better, and realized it was hundreds of little yachts, so I suggested that we go to Cowes for a closer look. We had arrived for Cowes Weekend! A never to be forgotten sight. And how Maria enjoyed it!"
In later years, when Maria, too crippled with arthritis, was unable to get out on her own, if a Sister would ask her if she would like to join her on going shopping, she would be down at the door before she could get there! Having been at Duchesne for some time, and being a bit depressed, the Sisters invited her to visit the new community at White City. The flat being on the first floor, and Maria not having been able to use stairs for at least two years, she was nonetheless eager to try. Now the entry staircase to the flats is not its most attractive feature and as Maria maneuvered up the stairs, her fellow Sisters heard her murmur "there is no carpet!"
Maria had a great gift for friendship, the result of a very loving heart. She had many friends and with each her relationship was unique. She and Sr. Carmela Ganado were real "buddies". One day her bedroom was to be decorated, the then Superior decided this would be an opportunity to clear out some of the objects of piety that had accumulated over the years. Maria bundled cherished possessions into various shoe boxes and took them across the corridor to Carmela's room where they were stashed under her bed. Of course they resurfaced when the room was decorated!
She was a faithful correspondent keeping in touch with her sisters and relatives in Malta and Australia. When Sr. Barbara Porter was out in Uganda she wrote regularly to her. Fortunately, Barbara kept her letters because they reveal her inimitable style "…it is good of you to write to me knowing you are very busy I prayed much for you during my midnight Mass celebrated early at 8 pm and the church was crowded the children had theirs in privet then they came in for the blessing of the crib and brought the baby Jesus it was lovely Mass joined by carols and it was all over by 10 after we met for hot drinks and Christmas pies we also had German biscuits…" One gets quite breathless owing to the total lack of punctuation, but this does not prevent her from conveying how perceptive she was of both events and human nature. She knew the ‘little ways' of each member of the Community but did not comment. However if anyone needed anything she knew exactly what she would like. This keen observation came as a surprise to many, including myself, as by the time I knew her she was bent with arthritis and fairly deaf, but I soon found she missed nothing and thus could forestall everyone's needs!
There were numerous people and intentions that Maria would pray earnestly for. As Maria confidently remarked one day "God always grants my prayers".
Maria was a "community person", taking part in community prayer and reflection and sharing in the work of the house. She took responsibility for her duties very seriously. She was very perceptive, discreet, and had a sense of humour. She was very good with her hands, and produced beautiful knitted things for her friends, charity or bazaars. As Maria grew older in her life, work, prayer, and self-giving, having lived through many years when silence, she had come to the stage of a naturally silent person. However, when the right moment presented itself, she regaled the Community with stories of her youthful exploits. She was ready to cap an argument or remark with a word of wisdom of the Maria Orlando variety. During this period there was a meeting for prayer and review of the events of the week, personal and communal. Her fellow Sisters were always impressed by her down to earth honesty and the simplicity with which she shared her thought and prayers. At this stage of her life, she was frail, with many infirmities, needing watchful care which she accepted with matter of fact simplicity. Before dinner each day she would be seen praying in the chapel, then out she went to the dining room to supervise the dishes and see that everything was in order. She had no use for prolonged conversations, a meal was for eating, so when it seemed to her that it was time to move, she would rise from her place, quietly removing glassed, and giving other hints. Maria's zest for life never left her. She was always ready for an outgoing which was enjoyed, especially visits to the sea front. She appreciated the scenery, but it must be said that she showed a marked preference for the slot machines on the pier.
Another of Maria's characteristic was her love of flowers and pretty things. To walk around the garden was something she loved and when at Cosham she was no longer able to do this, she loved the little vases of flows that Sr. Josephine Heywood would bring for her. She was delighted to receive a floral patterned duvet for her bed amongst her jubilee presents, taking it with her to Duchesne. Furthermore, when taken out for shopping, she knew without hesitation which dresses she liked.
Maria celebrated not only her Golden but also her Diamond Jubilee at Cosham and loved every minute of both occasions for which the parish turned out in force. As part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, Maria went to Lourdes in a wheelchair, together with Sr. Sciberras and loved it. She had always had a great devotion to Our Lady.
In 1997, Maria asked to visit Malta to see her Sister Teresa, and surprised the Community when she wanted to go again the next year. This she did. For both these visits she spent weeks beforehand carefully acquiring little presents to give to us, her young relatives. After the second visit however, she sadly acknowledged that she did not feel she would have the strength to go again.
This time came when Maria's increasing frailty necessitated a move to Duchesne. In next to no time there she had found little ‘jobs' helping to staff. She had always had a characteristic of silently appearing when there was something she could help out. Not long before the end of her life, recovering from a broken hip and walking with a zimmer, when the laundry machine broke, and staff had gone off sick, leaving Kaye to cope with a large share of work, Maria quietly appeared to help her friend.
Among her possessions were many notebooks of retreat notes, dating back over the years. They were not her personal thoughts, but notes of the conferences given so they give no insight into her spirituality. However she had, each evening, her copy of the Society manual of prayers in her hand, and beside her bed, a well used, much repaired copy of various Examens. Maria never had any interest in secular books, they bored her, but she read spiritual ones, everyday. One of her favourite was the writings of Juliana of Norwich.
Maria often used to say that she did not think she would live beyond the age of 89, and she proved herself right. Her health deteriorated gradually during the latter part of 1999, until suddenly an obstruction was suspected. Maria was unwilling to go to hospital until Sr. Elaine promised her that unless the doctors felt they could cure her, she would bring her home. So when she returned to Duchesne, all the Sisters knew there was nothing that could be done. Maria in her usual direct way was quickly on her way homewards. One can imagine her arrival in heaven, the whole court coming out to greet her, and Maria, without deviation or hesitation, head down, beetling through the throng, very aware but undistracted, straight for her Lord, where she would straighten up to greet the One she loved…face to face.
My Great Aunt. One of three blood sisters to enter the Society of the Sacred Heart, this is her story.
Sister Maria, then in her eighties, and her friend Anita were in a Portsmouth shoe shop. Maria had on a pair of shoes that were obviously too large, in fact there was a gap of about 10 cms between her heel and the back of the shoe. Maria wanted these shoes. "But Maria, they are much too big. There is even a gap at the back". "I do not look behind, I look in front". This reply summoned up Maria's life.
Her elder sister, Teresa, who outlived her by two years, recalled their childhood in her memories. Their father, Nicola Orlando married a second time after his much loved first wife - who had born him four children, of whom only two survived, Peter and Giovanna - died. Heartbroken, he found it impossible to work and care for the young children. His second wife, Euphemia Tonna had no formal education but was naturally gifted, who recognizing her latent talents, developed them in herself and her family. Maria was the second youngest child of this second marriage. Catherine was the eldest, then followed two boys, one of whom died very young. Teresa was the second girl, Maria two years later, and finally Marcello who eventually emigrated to Australia. Thus it was that Maria was baptized at St. Catherine's Parish in Zejtun the day after she was born on April 9, 1910, receiving the names Maria, Angelina, Giuseppa, Antonina. Her parents had to work hard in order to make ends meet. Education was important, at least for the boys. Their father was a blacksmith, skilled in designing gates, tables and other pieces of ironwork. When each of his daughters reached a certain age he made her a delicate chain, just the right size.
Their mother had a sweet shop which she ran beautifully despite being unable to write or read and possessing no accountancy skills. She would buy a sack or two of sugar, divide it into portions and sell it. Catherine and her mother used to rise very early and bake bread for the early shoppers. Teresa and Maria were only allowed to help when they reached a reasonable age. Meantime, their contribution was lace making.
Maria was very small for her age, dark skinned and teased on account of this by her siblings, who were fair and large. Before school age she was sent to live with her aunt Carmena, an unmarried teacher, who gave her a good basic education. She visited her own family occasionally, but never felt that she fitted into the home sitting. However she was happy living with her aunt.
It seemed that she returned home, however, possibly after Teresa went to school, because she used to describe how she helped out in the shop, enjoying the limitless supply of sweets, which accounts for her enduringly strong attraction for them! Maria had very little formal schooling, only attending school for a year at the age of nine. She wasn't keen on going, and her mother found it useful to have her at home. As she grew older, and her mother became infirm, she nursed her, recalling in her later years, that her mother would only allow her to do anything for her, despite that her sister had some nursing training.
Making her First Communion and being confirmed on June 15, 1919, at St. Catherine's in Zejtun, we have no actual record of when exactly Maria first felt the desire to give herself to God in the Society of the Sacred Heart. Possibly Catherine's entrance had something to do with it. All we do know is that by the time Teresa entered, Maria was eager to do so as well, but was too young. However the day came when Catherine was told she was to go to Japan. Was there anything she wanted before she went? Yes. To see her sister Maria in the Society. Maria was sent for and with no further ado, she came. Her mother sent to the orphanage for a girl, have her Maria's clothes and room. Maria was replaced!
It was on February 4, 1927, that Maria entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at St. Julian's. Eventually her birth certificate was sent to the Convent, and to their horror, her Superiors discovered that she was only 17. It would be cruel to send her home again, and beside the error was theirs. To get round this, her noviceship and aspirantship were extended, so that she received the habit on January 5, 1928, and made her First Vows on July 28, 1930. Her Mistress of Novices was Mother Gertrude Smith and Maria used to say was very kind of her. Apparently when first she entered was unable to eat the food provide and this began to cause concern. The fact was that Maria had been used to living on a diet of sweets and chocolate in the shop! Mother Smith discovered this, and made a bargain with Maria that if she managed to eat her meal, she could come afterwards and received a chocolate by way of reward. Thus a vocation was saved.
It was on July 28, 1930, that Maria made her
First Vows and received the news that she was to go to England for which she set sail five days later. She was never again to live in Malta, although she had the opportunity to do so over sixty years later, but she turned it down as the climate did not suit her.
Arriving in England, she spent two years first in West Hill, Brighton and Roehampton, working as second cook in each place. Moving from there to St. Charles still as second cook, she had the job of Caller added to her responsibilities. One needs to bear in mind that in those days work in the kitchen was a seven days a week job and being caller necessitated getting up half an hour before everyone else. Maria took a keen and intelligent interest in her work, learning all she could. There was a certain head cook under whom she worked however, who was very unwilling to share any of her recipes. However she reckoned with the ingenuity of Maria, who would casually ask for the quantity of a certain ingredient, memorize it and wait until another opportunity to ask the quantity of something else. Like this Maria got quietly all the information she wanted, and her informant was totally unaware that she gradually divulged all her recipes. It was at St. Charles during the latter half of 1936 that Maria made her Probation, under to tutelage and guidance of Mother Catto.
On March 15, 1937, Maria was finally professed, the Mass being celebrated by a Maltese Benedictine, Father Agius. Having kept all her retreat resolutions in a spare notebook over the years, one can find her entry to her retreat prior to her profession. "To have a great personal love of Our Lord. It shows itself in seeing God's Person In my Mothers and Sisters, and in orders given and in taken things nicely and say yes with a smile". The English has not been corrected in this quotation. We must remember that Maria would have learnt most of her English orally, she wrote as she heard, be that as it may, those who knew Maria would surely recognize her "yes" accompanied by a beautiful smile as being a characteristic throughout her life.
As a newly professed Maria was sent in 1937, to Tunbridge Wells, this time as First Cook, now having to take responsibility for the running of the kitchen and advising of stores etc. that need to be ordered. War started, and with it rationing…and a school full of hungry girls to feed. 1940 saw the evacuation of the school to Albrighton Halls near the Welsh border. It was here, that she was in the Community with Sr. Kay Killoran, and as they worked together in the kitchen they developed a lifelong friendship.
"I first met Maria when she came to make the community retreat in Roehampton. At our recreation she asked, ‘Who is Sr. Killoran?' ‘Here I am', I replied, and to the Mother Assistant's amazement she accounted, ‘Oh your bed in made in Tunbridge Wells'. Obediences in those days were rather solemn, and you received them on your knees! Little did I know that I was to spend the next six years with her in the kitchen. They were very happy ones, and, unlike her experiences of obtaining recipes, she made sure I received all hers. Five of the years were during the war in Albrighton Hall, Shropshire. She was a genius at inventing recipes and coping with all the substitutes war demanded; but the results of her achievements flowed her constant prayer. We had many a good laugh. I could write a book, and it would be a bestseller. We learned the poem Emmanuel's Land, but changed one line: ‘Oh if one soul from Albrighton will meet me at God's right hand my heaven will be two heavens in Emmanuel's Land'. It was lovely to spend the last two years of her life together in Duchesne, where he laughed and reminisced, and prayed. Thank you Maria, for your faithful friendship".
Of this time Maria used to recall how she and Kay struggled to make the meat ration go round, and how they would slice the meat together, and the one praying fervently aloud, and the other counting the slices. "We always had just enough", Maria used to say. Another of her anecdotes of this time involved a request from the Mother Assistant that Maria provided brown bread for the community one day. The fact was that brown flour was not made during the war - all the flour was a non-specific grey. As far as Maria was concerned however, brown bread had been asked for, and brown bread they should have, so she added some gravy browning to the dough and the Community had the brown bread! This was a recipe that Maria did not reveal at the time, but it is an example of the advice she gave to Kay, "Always remember, the eye eats first".
By now Maria had worked for almost sixteen years in the kitchen and the long hours standing caused her health to deteriorate. Whenever she had to spend a day in bed, she worked hard to leave everything prepared for Kay. However the day came when the doctor told her Superior, Mother Frances Allpress that she must leave the employment "unless the Society wished to kill her". Thus it was that in 1944, Maria, moving back with the Community to Tunbridge Wells, and was given the Dispense, a much lighter employment, but a demanding one also.
1948 found her at Hammersmith working in the community linen room. She used to make lace at recreation, a skill she had learned as a child at home. Once, many years later, when her friend Anita proudly showed her a lace bookmark she had managed to make, Maria looked carefully at it, and said with devastating frankness, "a very easy pattern". Still working mostly in the linen room she moved between West Hill, Newcastle, Hammersmith and back to West Hill until 1975, then aged 65, she went as one of the founder members of the Cosham Community and there she was to stay for 22 years. The late Sr. Margaret Ritchie recalled, "Maria worked and, one is sure, prayed with devotion. She fulfilled St. Paul's admonition with happiness. A young woman can devote herself to making sure that everything is as it should be and that she gave her undivided attention to the Lord. She was very careful to give her very best at all times, whether as refectorian, seeing to visitors needs, or any practical work, and she was punctilious in her fidelity to prayer. In the early days at Cosham there was Benediction on Sunday afternoons in the Parish Church. Sr. Bugeja and Maria always started to walk to the church in the very good time, for they would never, on any account, be late. In later years, Maria was driven to church for Mass, and the priest would see her arrive from a presbytery window. He commented on the speed of her approach and her attention on the church and with never a pause she sped in a beeline to prayer in the church.
Maria always loved an outing. In her early days at Cosham she was able to get out and about quite a lot. She and Sr. Emma Lillie used to make for the local teashop for tea and cakes when the rest of the Community were up in London at meetings. Another ploy was to go off with Sr. Bugeja to Southsea where they would enjoy themselves watching the various machines in the amusement arcade. In fact she never lost this fascination. Sr. Clary Betzler recalls, "I have lived for many years here at Cosham with Maria, and would like to add her love of going out with me on my outings. The one I remember extra well is when riving at the ferry for the Isle of Wight we saw the Solent speckled with white triangles and asked ourselves what it could be. On the ferry we could see better, and realized it was hundreds of little yachts, so I suggested that we go to Cowes for a closer look. We had arrived for Cowes Weekend! A never to be forgotten sight. And how Maria enjoyed it!"
In later years, when Maria, too crippled with arthritis, was unable to get out on her own, if a Sister would ask her if she would like to join her on going shopping, she would be down at the door before she could get there! Having been at Duchesne for some time, and being a bit depressed, the Sisters invited her to visit the new community at White City. The flat being on the first floor, and Maria not having been able to use stairs for at least two years, she was nonetheless eager to try. Now the entry staircase to the flats is not its most attractive feature and as Maria maneuvered up the stairs, her fellow Sisters heard her murmur "there is no carpet!"
Maria had a great gift for friendship, the result of a very loving heart. She had many friends and with each her relationship was unique. She and Sr. Carmela Ganado were real "buddies". One day her bedroom was to be decorated, the then Superior decided this would be an opportunity to clear out some of the objects of piety that had accumulated over the years. Maria bundled cherished possessions into various shoe boxes and took them across the corridor to Carmela's room where they were stashed under her bed. Of course they resurfaced when the room was decorated!
She was a faithful correspondent keeping in touch with her sisters and relatives in Malta and Australia. When Sr. Barbara Porter was out in Uganda she wrote regularly to her. Fortunately, Barbara kept her letters because they reveal her inimitable style "…it is good of you to write to me knowing you are very busy I prayed much for you during my midnight Mass celebrated early at 8 pm and the church was crowded the children had theirs in privet then they came in for the blessing of the crib and brought the baby Jesus it was lovely Mass joined by carols and it was all over by 10 after we met for hot drinks and Christmas pies we also had German biscuits…" One gets quite breathless owing to the total lack of punctuation, but this does not prevent her from conveying how perceptive she was of both events and human nature. She knew the ‘little ways' of each member of the Community but did not comment. However if anyone needed anything she knew exactly what she would like. This keen observation came as a surprise to many, including myself, as by the time I knew her she was bent with arthritis and fairly deaf, but I soon found she missed nothing and thus could forestall everyone's needs!
There were numerous people and intentions that Maria would pray earnestly for. As Maria confidently remarked one day "God always grants my prayers".
Maria was a "community person", taking part in community prayer and reflection and sharing in the work of the house. She took responsibility for her duties very seriously. She was very perceptive, discreet, and had a sense of humour. She was very good with her hands, and produced beautiful knitted things for her friends, charity or bazaars. As Maria grew older in her life, work, prayer, and self-giving, having lived through many years when silence, she had come to the stage of a naturally silent person. However, when the right moment presented itself, she regaled the Community with stories of her youthful exploits. She was ready to cap an argument or remark with a word of wisdom of the Maria Orlando variety. During this period there was a meeting for prayer and review of the events of the week, personal and communal. Her fellow Sisters were always impressed by her down to earth honesty and the simplicity with which she shared her thought and prayers. At this stage of her life, she was frail, with many infirmities, needing watchful care which she accepted with matter of fact simplicity. Before dinner each day she would be seen praying in the chapel, then out she went to the dining room to supervise the dishes and see that everything was in order. She had no use for prolonged conversations, a meal was for eating, so when it seemed to her that it was time to move, she would rise from her place, quietly removing glassed, and giving other hints. Maria's zest for life never left her. She was always ready for an outgoing which was enjoyed, especially visits to the sea front. She appreciated the scenery, but it must be said that she showed a marked preference for the slot machines on the pier.
Another of Maria's characteristic was her love of flowers and pretty things. To walk around the garden was something she loved and when at Cosham she was no longer able to do this, she loved the little vases of flows that Sr. Josephine Heywood would bring for her. She was delighted to receive a floral patterned duvet for her bed amongst her jubilee presents, taking it with her to Duchesne. Furthermore, when taken out for shopping, she knew without hesitation which dresses she liked.
Maria celebrated not only her Golden but also her Diamond Jubilee at Cosham and loved every minute of both occasions for which the parish turned out in force. As part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, Maria went to Lourdes in a wheelchair, together with Sr. Sciberras and loved it. She had always had a great devotion to Our Lady.
In 1997, Maria asked to visit Malta to see her Sister Teresa, and surprised the Community when she wanted to go again the next year. This she did. For both these visits she spent weeks beforehand carefully acquiring little presents to give to us, her young relatives. After the second visit however, she sadly acknowledged that she did not feel she would have the strength to go again.
This time came when Maria's increasing frailty necessitated a move to Duchesne. In next to no time there she had found little ‘jobs' helping to staff. She had always had a characteristic of silently appearing when there was something she could help out. Not long before the end of her life, recovering from a broken hip and walking with a zimmer, when the laundry machine broke, and staff had gone off sick, leaving Kaye to cope with a large share of work, Maria quietly appeared to help her friend.
Among her possessions were many notebooks of retreat notes, dating back over the years. They were not her personal thoughts, but notes of the conferences given so they give no insight into her spirituality. However she had, each evening, her copy of the Society manual of prayers in her hand, and beside her bed, a well used, much repaired copy of various Examens. Maria never had any interest in secular books, they bored her, but she read spiritual ones, everyday. One of her favourite was the writings of Juliana of Norwich.
Maria often used to say that she did not think she would live beyond the age of 89, and she proved herself right. Her health deteriorated gradually during the latter part of 1999, until suddenly an obstruction was suspected. Maria was unwilling to go to hospital until Sr. Elaine promised her that unless the doctors felt they could cure her, she would bring her home. So when she returned to Duchesne, all the Sisters knew there was nothing that could be done. Maria in her usual direct way was quickly on her way homewards. One can imagine her arrival in heaven, the whole court coming out to greet her, and Maria, without deviation or hesitation, head down, beetling through the throng, very aware but undistracted, straight for her Lord, where she would straighten up to greet the One she loved…face to face.
Sister Maria, then in her eighties, and her friend Anita were in a Portsmouth shoe shop. Maria had on a pair of shoes that were obviously too large, in fact there was a gap of about 10 cms between her heel and the back of the shoe. Maria wanted these shoes. "But Maria, they are much too big. There is even a gap at the back". "I do not look behind, I look in front". This reply summoned up Maria's life.
Her elder sister, Teresa, who outlived her by two years, recalled their childhood in her memories. Their father, Nicola Orlando married a second time after his much loved first wife - who had born him four children, of whom only two survived, Peter and Giovanna - died. Heartbroken, he found it impossible to work and care for the young children. His second wife, Euphemia Tonna had no formal education but was naturally gifted, who recognizing her latent talents, developed them in herself and her family. Maria was the second youngest child of this second marriage. Catherine was the eldest, then followed two boys, one of whom died very young. Teresa was the second girl, Maria two years later, and finally Marcello who eventually emigrated to Australia. Thus it was that Maria was baptized at St. Catherine's Parish in Zejtun the day after she was born on April 9, 1910, receiving the names Maria, Angelina, Giuseppa, Antonina. Her parents had to work hard in order to make ends meet. Education was important, at least for the boys. Their father was a blacksmith, skilled in designing gates, tables and other pieces of ironwork. When each of his daughters reached a certain age he made her a delicate chain, just the right size.
Their mother had a sweet shop which she ran beautifully despite being unable to write or read and possessing no accountancy skills. She would buy a sack or two of sugar, divide it into portions and sell it. Catherine and her mother used to rise very early and bake bread for the early shoppers. Teresa and Maria were only allowed to help when they reached a reasonable age. Meantime, their contribution was lace making.
Maria was very small for her age, dark skinned and teased on account of this by her siblings, who were fair and large. Before school age she was sent to live with her aunt Carmena, an unmarried teacher, who gave her a good basic education. She visited her own family occasionally, but never felt that she fitted into the home sitting. However she was happy living with her aunt.
It seemed that she returned home, however, possibly after Teresa went to school, because she used to describe how she helped out in the shop, enjoying the limitless supply of sweets, which accounts for her enduringly strong attraction for them! Maria had very little formal schooling, only attending school for a year at the age of nine. She wasn't keen on going, and her mother found it useful to have her at home. As she grew older, and her mother became infirm, she nursed her, recalling in her later years, that her mother would only allow her to do anything for her, despite that her sister had some nursing training.
Making her First Communion and being confirmed on June 15, 1919, at St. Catherine's in Zejtun, we have no actual record of when exactly Maria first felt the desire to give herself to God in the Society of the Sacred Heart. Possibly Catherine's entrance had something to do with it. All we do know is that by the time Teresa entered, Maria was eager to do so as well, but was too young. However the day came when Catherine was told she was to go to Japan. Was there anything she wanted before she went? Yes. To see her sister Maria in the Society. Maria was sent for and with no further ado, she came. Her mother sent to the orphanage for a girl, have her Maria's clothes and room. Maria was replaced!
It was on February 4, 1927, that Maria entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at St. Julian's. Eventually her birth certificate was sent to the Convent, and to their horror, her Superiors discovered that she was only 17. It would be cruel to send her home again, and beside the error was theirs. To get round this, her noviceship and aspirantship were extended, so that she received the habit on January 5, 1928, and made her First Vows on July 28, 1930. Her Mistress of Novices was Mother Gertrude Smith and Maria used to say was very kind of her. Apparently when first she entered was unable to eat the food provide and this began to cause concern. The fact was that Maria had been used to living on a diet of sweets and chocolate in the shop! Mother Smith discovered this, and made a bargain with Maria that if she managed to eat her meal, she could come afterwards and received a chocolate by way of reward. Thus a vocation was saved.
It was on July 28, 1930, that Maria made her
First Vows and received the news that she was to go to England for which she set sail five days later. She was never again to live in Malta, although she had the opportunity to do so over sixty years later, but she turned it down as the climate did not suit her.
Arriving in England, she spent two years first in West Hill, Brighton and Roehampton, working as second cook in each place. Moving from there to St. Charles still as second cook, she had the job of Caller added to her responsibilities. One needs to bear in mind that in those days work in the kitchen was a seven days a week job and being caller necessitated getting up half an hour before everyone else. Maria took a keen and intelligent interest in her work, learning all she could. There was a certain head cook under whom she worked however, who was very unwilling to share any of her recipes. However she reckoned with the ingenuity of Maria, who would casually ask for the quantity of a certain ingredient, memorize it and wait until another opportunity to ask the quantity of something else. Like this Maria got quietly all the information she wanted, and her informant was totally unaware that she gradually divulged all her recipes. It was at St. Charles during the latter half of 1936 that Maria made her Probation, under to tutelage and guidance of Mother Catto.
On March 15, 1937, Maria was finally professed, the Mass being celebrated by a Maltese Benedictine, Father Agius. Having kept all her retreat resolutions in a spare notebook over the years, one can find her entry to her retreat prior to her profession. "To have a great personal love of Our Lord. It shows itself in seeing God's Person In my Mothers and Sisters, and in orders given and in taken things nicely and say yes with a smile". The English has not been corrected in this quotation. We must remember that Maria would have learnt most of her English orally, she wrote as she heard, be that as it may, those who knew Maria would surely recognize her "yes" accompanied by a beautiful smile as being a characteristic throughout her life.
As a newly professed Maria was sent in 1937, to Tunbridge Wells, this time as First Cook, now having to take responsibility for the running of the kitchen and advising of stores etc. that need to be ordered. War started, and with it rationing…and a school full of hungry girls to feed. 1940 saw the evacuation of the school to Albrighton Halls near the Welsh border. It was here, that she was in the Community with Sr. Kay Killoran, and as they worked together in the kitchen they developed a lifelong friendship.
"I first met Maria when she came to make the community retreat in Roehampton. At our recreation she asked, ‘Who is Sr. Killoran?' ‘Here I am', I replied, and to the Mother Assistant's amazement she accounted, ‘Oh your bed in made in Tunbridge Wells'. Obediences in those days were rather solemn, and you received them on your knees! Little did I know that I was to spend the next six years with her in the kitchen. They were very happy ones, and, unlike her experiences of obtaining recipes, she made sure I received all hers. Five of the years were during the war in Albrighton Hall, Shropshire. She was a genius at inventing recipes and coping with all the substitutes war demanded; but the results of her achievements flowed her constant prayer. We had many a good laugh. I could write a book, and it would be a bestseller. We learned the poem Emmanuel's Land, but changed one line: ‘Oh if one soul from Albrighton will meet me at God's right hand my heaven will be two heavens in Emmanuel's Land'. It was lovely to spend the last two years of her life together in Duchesne, where he laughed and reminisced, and prayed. Thank you Maria, for your faithful friendship".
Of this time Maria used to recall how she and Kay struggled to make the meat ration go round, and how they would slice the meat together, and the one praying fervently aloud, and the other counting the slices. "We always had just enough", Maria used to say. Another of her anecdotes of this time involved a request from the Mother Assistant that Maria provided brown bread for the community one day. The fact was that brown flour was not made during the war - all the flour was a non-specific grey. As far as Maria was concerned however, brown bread had been asked for, and brown bread they should have, so she added some gravy browning to the dough and the Community had the brown bread! This was a recipe that Maria did not reveal at the time, but it is an example of the advice she gave to Kay, "Always remember, the eye eats first".
By now Maria had worked for almost sixteen years in the kitchen and the long hours standing caused her health to deteriorate. Whenever she had to spend a day in bed, she worked hard to leave everything prepared for Kay. However the day came when the doctor told her Superior, Mother Frances Allpress that she must leave the employment "unless the Society wished to kill her". Thus it was that in 1944, Maria, moving back with the Community to Tunbridge Wells, and was given the Dispense, a much lighter employment, but a demanding one also.
1948 found her at Hammersmith working in the community linen room. She used to make lace at recreation, a skill she had learned as a child at home. Once, many years later, when her friend Anita proudly showed her a lace bookmark she had managed to make, Maria looked carefully at it, and said with devastating frankness, "a very easy pattern". Still working mostly in the linen room she moved between West Hill, Newcastle, Hammersmith and back to West Hill until 1975, then aged 65, she went as one of the founder members of the Cosham Community and there she was to stay for 22 years. The late Sr. Margaret Ritchie recalled, "Maria worked and, one is sure, prayed with devotion. She fulfilled St. Paul's admonition with happiness. A young woman can devote herself to making sure that everything is as it should be and that she gave her undivided attention to the Lord. She was very careful to give her very best at all times, whether as refectorian, seeing to visitors needs, or any practical work, and she was punctilious in her fidelity to prayer. In the early days at Cosham there was Benediction on Sunday afternoons in the Parish Church. Sr. Bugeja and Maria always started to walk to the church in the very good time, for they would never, on any account, be late. In later years, Maria was driven to church for Mass, and the priest would see her arrive from a presbytery window. He commented on the speed of her approach and her attention on the church and with never a pause she sped in a beeline to prayer in the church.
Maria always loved an outing. In her early days at Cosham she was able to get out and about quite a lot. She and Sr. Emma Lillie used to make for the local teashop for tea and cakes when the rest of the Community were up in London at meetings. Another ploy was to go off with Sr. Bugeja to Southsea where they would enjoy themselves watching the various machines in the amusement arcade. In fact she never lost this fascination. Sr. Clary Betzler recalls, "I have lived for many years here at Cosham with Maria, and would like to add her love of going out with me on my outings. The one I remember extra well is when riving at the ferry for the Isle of Wight we saw the Solent speckled with white triangles and asked ourselves what it could be. On the ferry we could see better, and realized it was hundreds of little yachts, so I suggested that we go to Cowes for a closer look. We had arrived for Cowes Weekend! A never to be forgotten sight. And how Maria enjoyed it!"
In later years, when Maria, too crippled with arthritis, was unable to get out on her own, if a Sister would ask her if she would like to join her on going shopping, she would be down at the door before she could get there! Having been at Duchesne for some time, and being a bit depressed, the Sisters invited her to visit the new community at White City. The flat being on the first floor, and Maria not having been able to use stairs for at least two years, she was nonetheless eager to try. Now the entry staircase to the flats is not its most attractive feature and as Maria maneuvered up the stairs, her fellow Sisters heard her murmur "there is no carpet!"
Maria had a great gift for friendship, the result of a very loving heart. She had many friends and with each her relationship was unique. She and Sr. Carmela Ganado were real "buddies". One day her bedroom was to be decorated, the then Superior decided this would be an opportunity to clear out some of the objects of piety that had accumulated over the years. Maria bundled cherished possessions into various shoe boxes and took them across the corridor to Carmela's room where they were stashed under her bed. Of course they resurfaced when the room was decorated!
She was a faithful correspondent keeping in touch with her sisters and relatives in Malta and Australia. When Sr. Barbara Porter was out in Uganda she wrote regularly to her. Fortunately, Barbara kept her letters because they reveal her inimitable style "…it is good of you to write to me knowing you are very busy I prayed much for you during my midnight Mass celebrated early at 8 pm and the church was crowded the children had theirs in privet then they came in for the blessing of the crib and brought the baby Jesus it was lovely Mass joined by carols and it was all over by 10 after we met for hot drinks and Christmas pies we also had German biscuits…" One gets quite breathless owing to the total lack of punctuation, but this does not prevent her from conveying how perceptive she was of both events and human nature. She knew the ‘little ways' of each member of the Community but did not comment. However if anyone needed anything she knew exactly what she would like. This keen observation came as a surprise to many, including myself, as by the time I knew her she was bent with arthritis and fairly deaf, but I soon found she missed nothing and thus could forestall everyone's needs!
There were numerous people and intentions that Maria would pray earnestly for. As Maria confidently remarked one day "God always grants my prayers".
Maria was a "community person", taking part in community prayer and reflection and sharing in the work of the house. She took responsibility for her duties very seriously. She was very perceptive, discreet, and had a sense of humour. She was very good with her hands, and produced beautiful knitted things for her friends, charity or bazaars. As Maria grew older in her life, work, prayer, and self-giving, having lived through many years when silence, she had come to the stage of a naturally silent person. However, when the right moment presented itself, she regaled the Community with stories of her youthful exploits. She was ready to cap an argument or remark with a word of wisdom of the Maria Orlando variety. During this period there was a meeting for prayer and review of the events of the week, personal and communal. Her fellow Sisters were always impressed by her down to earth honesty and the simplicity with which she shared her thought and prayers. At this stage of her life, she was frail, with many infirmities, needing watchful care which she accepted with matter of fact simplicity. Before dinner each day she would be seen praying in the chapel, then out she went to the dining room to supervise the dishes and see that everything was in order. She had no use for prolonged conversations, a meal was for eating, so when it seemed to her that it was time to move, she would rise from her place, quietly removing glassed, and giving other hints. Maria's zest for life never left her. She was always ready for an outgoing which was enjoyed, especially visits to the sea front. She appreciated the scenery, but it must be said that she showed a marked preference for the slot machines on the pier.
Another of Maria's characteristic was her love of flowers and pretty things. To walk around the garden was something she loved and when at Cosham she was no longer able to do this, she loved the little vases of flows that Sr. Josephine Heywood would bring for her. She was delighted to receive a floral patterned duvet for her bed amongst her jubilee presents, taking it with her to Duchesne. Furthermore, when taken out for shopping, she knew without hesitation which dresses she liked.
Maria celebrated not only her Golden but also her Diamond Jubilee at Cosham and loved every minute of both occasions for which the parish turned out in force. As part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, Maria went to Lourdes in a wheelchair, together with Sr. Sciberras and loved it. She had always had a great devotion to Our Lady.
In 1997, Maria asked to visit Malta to see her Sister Teresa, and surprised the Community when she wanted to go again the next year. This she did. For both these visits she spent weeks beforehand carefully acquiring little presents to give to us, her young relatives. After the second visit however, she sadly acknowledged that she did not feel she would have the strength to go again.
This time came when Maria's increasing frailty necessitated a move to Duchesne. In next to no time there she had found little ‘jobs' helping to staff. She had always had a characteristic of silently appearing when there was something she could help out. Not long before the end of her life, recovering from a broken hip and walking with a zimmer, when the laundry machine broke, and staff had gone off sick, leaving Kaye to cope with a large share of work, Maria quietly appeared to help her friend.
Among her possessions were many notebooks of retreat notes, dating back over the years. They were not her personal thoughts, but notes of the conferences given so they give no insight into her spirituality. However she had, each evening, her copy of the Society manual of prayers in her hand, and beside her bed, a well used, much repaired copy of various Examens. Maria never had any interest in secular books, they bored her, but she read spiritual ones, everyday. One of her favourite was the writings of Juliana of Norwich.
Maria often used to say that she did not think she would live beyond the age of 89, and she proved herself right. Her health deteriorated gradually during the latter part of 1999, until suddenly an obstruction was suspected. Maria was unwilling to go to hospital until Sr. Elaine promised her that unless the doctors felt they could cure her, she would bring her home. So when she returned to Duchesne, all the Sisters knew there was nothing that could be done. Maria in her usual direct way was quickly on her way homewards. One can imagine her arrival in heaven, the whole court coming out to greet her, and Maria, without deviation or hesitation, head down, beetling through the throng, very aware but undistracted, straight for her Lord, where she would straighten up to greet the One she loved…face to face.
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