Hajja Salesjana

especially at a time when she away from her community, of visiting Theresa, sometimes along with my wife. On relinquishing her responsibilities at her Mother House, Theresa was asked to return to her homeland with the task of establishing a small community in Sliema. The Sisters had been in Gozo for many years and their absence in Malta was felt as, amongst the many youths, a good number of girls, attended the Salesian Fathers’ Oratory in Sliema. There Theresa again found her love of being with youths. After five years she was asked to move to Gozo. Unfortunately, just a few months into her mission in Gozo, Theresa was diagnosed with cancer. She battled along without complaining for five years until her condition was such that her Provincial felt that the time had come for her to be cared for at the Salesian Sisters’ home for aged/seriously sick nuns at Torre Annunziata (Naples Province). She moved there in April 2024. Joyce and I are thankful that, again, God blessed us with the opportunity to be the only family members to spend time with my dear sister shortly before she passed to eternal life on 10.09.24. R.I.P. guiding youths towards a Christian way of life. My wife, Joyce, and I were fortunate to visit her in 1994. Later, Theresa assumed the responsibility of Provincial for Australia and the Oceania region. At the Salesian Sisters’ 1996 General Chapter in Rome, Theresa was appointed as one of the Counsellors to the Mother General and thus started a twelve-year stint based in Rome. This entailed frequent travel to communities in the geographical area assigned to her. At one point, she had to undergo a knee replacement operation followed by six weeks at a rehabilitation center. Once again, God willed that I was doing voluntary work as Treasurer of the Vatican-based Caritas Internationalis. During these 8 years, my work entailed frequent visits to Rome, thus giving me the opportunity, Sr. Georgina Grech FMA and Sr. Theresa 31 Jannar-Marzu 2025 hajja