In this interview conducted by Ms. Janina Gomes, Sr. Ines D’Souza shares insights into her life as a missionary. Her journey is defined by simplicity, unwavering selflessness, and a steadfast commitment to providing care and compassion as a nurse and midwife.
Tell us something about your early years
I was born in Goa, on the 16th of June 1943. I Ines, as I was named by my parents, am the 2nd of 9 siblings. We had very religious and devoted parents. My parents after their marriage migrated to Rangoon, Burma where my father was working on his own estate even before his marriage. The Second World War (1939-45) had a deleterious effect on Burma. Being a British colony, it was targeted. Our family lost all they had and had to return to India, as many others had done.
I was about 5 years old, when we returned to Burma, where I did my studies with the Religious of the Good Shepherd. At the age of 21, my parents brought us all back to Goa, with the intention of settling us.
How did you receive your calling to dedicate yourself to the Lord?
Somehow nothing and no one appealed to me. I also worked for sometime in a British company as a steno typist in Bombay. When God calls, you can’t really escape. He follows you and seeks you, even though you play hide and seek,
The call is a Free Gift and to crown it all, from God Himself. He was beside me when I was making a decision, as though He was saying, “Go on, do not be afraid”. How I came to know the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Chavanod, the religious order I joined, is yet another story. Nothing happens by chance, I attribute it all to God’s grace.
On the 20th June 1964, I joined the Religious Order at Amravati, Maharashtra. Since then I can only sing of the faithfulness of the Lord. He has been with me, inspiring and guiding me and leading me even without my knowledge.
Looking back, how do you see religious life as a special calling?
Religious life, like all other walks of life is not a bed of roses. There are challenges and ups and downs. But, remember, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Treasure your prayer life and be faithful to it. God who is faithful will never let you down. That’s my experience. I talk to Him continuously as I walk along my path and at work. A biblical prayer says: “God is my refuge and stronghold” God has done that for you and me. Gratitude and Love must be our return gift to Him.
Tell us something about your mission work in the Cameroons, where you spent 15 years.
By profession, I am a nurse, midwife too. I was asked to go to the Cameroons in Africa, where I worked in the hinterland, a type of jungle. That was a challenge. You had to be a nurse, doctor, surgeon, mother, sometimes a police man, a guardian and combine many roles in one. It taught me so much to rely on the Lord. It was 365 days of work round the year and one had to be available at any time of the day or night. I sought the Lord at all times and with his help, in this healing ministry, gave Him to others through my very being, living like them and praying with them. I especially remember the young babies responding to me and coming to me with open arms because they had heard my voice, as I had talked to them when they were still in their mother’s wombs.
I could have carried on, but unfortunately I contracted falciparum malaria and became immune to all medication (allopathy and even herbal medicines) and hence had to return to India. Here I was in a Hospice for patients of terminal disease. I learnt a lot from the helpers at the Hospice to be patient and kind and caring. For me it was a witness while being a witness too.
Tell us about your work in France, looking after elderly Sisters of your Congregation.
I was then again called to be in France for another 10 years to look after our 25 elderly sisters, ranging from 85 years to 104 years of age, all French sisters. The first thing I had to do was to brush up my French. That was not enough. Second, I was the first Indian sister to be with our old French sisters. Together, we had a Vision and a Mission in this Home. Placed under the Standard of the Cross: To make known the Good God and to participate in the Mystery of Jesus, Died and Risen, in his Mission in the World, for the salvation of all and for the glory of God.
My role in the Home was to prepare the sisters for their end and pray for them. I had to see to their spiritual well being, I had to help them to participate in community life and to celebrate with them liturgical feasts, congregation feasts, personal feasts and birthdays. I had also to bring joy to their lives and to remind them that we are Religious right to the end of our lives. I had to prepare them to meet the Lord when the time comes and to assist them in praying, whilst making this passage to the other side, where they would be with Jesus in the embrace of the Lord
Looking back, as I write this, I wonder how I did it all. It wasn’t an easy task and yet another challenge I faced, but I went along. The Lord was my helper and stronghold. God was with me, even when I did not think about it consciously. He was my faithful companion. Thank you Lord!
Tell us something about your present postings.
I am back home in India since October 2022, I was assigned to a community in Goa, where I spent a few months. I adapted myself to the place and the work, with God’s grace. In June 2023, the Provincial shifted me to Pune, to the Novitiate where I had to learn to adapt again to a community with three sisters and eight novices, where I help in House management.
The Lord has led me all these years having spent 56 years in religious life. The Power of the Spirit enlivens me and Mother Mary protects me.
Tell us something about your Congregation.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod is an Apostolic Religious Institute, which is International and of Pontifical Right. Our vision is to make the Lord, God known and loved. Our charism is a call to participate in the Mystery of Jesus, dead and risen- in his Mission in the world for the salvation of all.
The three evangelical vows we take of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience help me to live in intimate union with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and thus be at the service of the Mission entrusted to me, with all generosity, and to do the Will of God. The vow of Poverty lived after the example of Christ frees me and makes me available for the accomplishment of the Mission. The vow of Chastity, nourished by prayer, entails a certain degree of solitude of heart, which far from being a privation, instead radiates joy. This is a gift of the Spirit to hearts which are totally surrendered to the love of the Lord. With God’s grace, for the very little I gave up, I have received in return in my life, a cup filled to the brim and overflowing. That is God’s generosity.
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