Sr. M. Angelica Simon

was born on 6th March, 1933 in Dehra Dun to Mr. Henry Simon and Catherine Simon. She was the second youngest among the six children and was christened Sheela. Her parents and four of her siblings went to heavenly abode before her. Her elder sister Mrs. Josephine Fernandes aged 89 is alive and was with us for the funeral of Sr. Angelica.

Sr. Angleica did her schooling in St. Mary’s school, Allahabad, India. At a young age of seven she was incorporated in the cathedral choir because of her melodious voice. Her beautiful singing captivated everyone present in the church. She was one of the favourite students of our sisters working in the school at the time.

Sr. Angelica heard the call of God to religious life at an early age and received the strength and courage to bid farewell to her family in 1951. She completed her novitiate in Patna and made her first profession on 2nd Feb 1954 and six years later, she took her final vows on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Sr. Angelica’s first assignment was to St. Philomina’s School, Jhansi. Sister developed a great love for the poor and all her subsequent assignments were according to her desire of serving the poor and the marginalized. She rendered her loving service to the difficult and pioneering missions such as Shahpur, Patna, Jeolikkot, and Mumbai in India, and Jhamsikhel in Nepal. She had a tender and kind heart for the co-workers and the poor wherever she was placed.

Sr. Angelica’s great call to Nepal came in the year 1977 as in charge of St. Mary’s Primary School, Kathmandu. She took great pride in appointing efficient teachers and training them in the C.J. way of functioning; and most of those teachers remained loyal and faithful to the school. She served the Congregation as the local superior of St. Mary’s Pokhara. She proved to be a loving and caring superior both the times she was given this responsibility.

Sr. Angelica had a magical touch which transformed everything that she put her hands on, to something beautiful; whether it was a cultural programme, or a one-act play in the school, she had to be there to give the finishing touch. Her presence changed the world of imperfection to perfection.

After retiring from the active ministry as a teacher and administrator, sister continued to serve St. Mary’s School, Kathmandu as the head of the ‘school band’ and later as the sacristan of the community.

As a community member, Sr. Angelica was such a caring person that she used to be genuinely concerned about anyone who was away from the community even if only for a meal; and when that person returned to the community, Sr. Angelica used to make the homecoming specially sweet by preparing a decorated plate just for that person. She expressed her love for her community members through simple acts like serving hot chappatis straight from the kitchen. She reminded every sister in her community that they were valued and their ministries were appreciated by conversing with them about their work with great love and care. She loved to teach Catechism and even in the late stage of her sickness she had sharp memories of Catholic children whom she had taught and would inquire their whereabouts.

Christmas was Sr. Angelica’s most favourite liturgical season. Throughout the Advent season, she was seen around happily and excitedly busy with preparing advent wreaths, mistletoes and Christmas play. Her world of imagination was filled with holy angels and Baby Jesus and it found its expression in the love she put in packing gifts and icing the cakes. One can never forget how Sr. Angelica used to make the feast of St. Nicolas a joyful one by her renditions of the ‘Jingle Bells,’ and distribution of little gifts which she herself used to wrap and present, all in a hilarious Santa attire. Life, indeed, was a celebration for her.

Sr. Angelica’s love for the poor was commendable. It was not uncommon for her community members to see sister staying on in the refectory long after everyone finished their meals to collect whatever food she could to feed a hungry co-worker or a poor woman who would turn up at the school gate. She had a highly endearing nature and effortlessly engaged in small talks with the children, teachers and whoever came to visit the school and community. She loved the company of all, especially the little ones and often used to visit the school to meet with them. She was a person-oriented missionary and as such touched many hearts with her simplicity and heartwarming guidance.

Sr. Angelica was always fragile. Silently she bore her physical discomforts. She had a strong willpower which enabled her to move around and do her own personal errands by herself till the last ounce of strength was left in her body. Sister was hospitalized several times in the last couple of years and was deeply grateful that every time she bounced back. In her acute sufferings and temporary recoveries she searched and found God’s will for her and attempted to give more of everything that she was to others in all the ways possible.

In the last two years of her life, Sr. Angelica endured, with a pleasant and serene demeanor, horrendous physical and mental agony because she had to survive solely on a liquid diet. Her identification with the suffering of Jesus on the cross was in a way complete in the last stages of her life as her food pipe shrunk to such an extent that even the liquid diet became impossible.

Eventually and inevitably, lack of nutrition took its toll on Sr. Angelica. As the final resort to some sort of recovery from malnutrition, with expert advice from the doctors who were looking after her at Nidan hospital, sister underwent an oesophageal stenting with 50% chance of survival. Miraculously she survived the stenting and was responding to it positively. However, it was short-lived as on 17th February evening onwards sister expressed extreme discomfort. Even in the midst of intense suffering Sr. Angelica requested the superior to offer a freshly bloomed tulip which was very dear to her, at the grotto. This gesture proved to be a sign of her complete surrender and she gave up her soul to the Lord in the wee hours of 18th Feb 2017.

Sr. Angelica was a person who lived her religious life with total dedication. She indeed fulfilled in her life, the very words of venerable Mary Ward, “Live your vocation fully, cherish it, let it be constant, efficacious and loving.”

As we thank God for choosing and enabling Sr. Angelica to be a true instrument of His kingdom through the C.J. way of life, no words can better express what we feel than the words of condolences expressed to us by Fr. Etienne Degrez, S.J. who is the most frequent celebrant at our morning Mass: “In such frail body and extreme physical weakness she was giving a testimony of spiritual strength. I have not known Sister Angelica in her apostolically active years, but have seen her, during these last years, dedicated in the small and unnoticed services of daily life, sacristy, garden and others, and above all accepting suffering and slow decline with serenity. And that was enough for me. Truly a Gospel-informed personality in her dealing with others, in reflecting and sharing her thought too. Sr. Angelica is gone. May the good Lord give us many more such people in religious life. We need them.”

Dear Sr. Angelica, we miss you very much. May you enjoy the eternal bliss in heaven that you always longed for.

St. Mary’s Community, Kathmandu, Nepal

22.02.2017

Memories