Sometimes you meet someone in your life that inadvertently shows aspects of greatness, never realising the extent of the profound effect he would have on your life. He touches your soul in a very special way. That’s the kind of impact Bro Emmanuel had on me.

As a Brother and Headmaster, he radiated a sense of authority and greatness. His presence at Stella Maris College brought a sense of security, purpose, direction and belonging. As a religious, he was a firm believer in prayer and a great devotee of Mary the Mother of Jesus.

As I attended Mass in honour of Brother Emmanuel at the Gzira Parish Church, a phrase from the poem by Henry Longfellow – ‘The Windmill’ – came to mind which epitomized my image of Brother Emmanuel, “Behold! A giant am I”.

He was a giant in the sense of having been a great Brother, a great Headmaster, a great teacher, but above all a great follower of St John Baptist De La Salle. With all these great attributes lost, I feel that Malta is a little poorer, for a De La Salle brother died today.

Pain, suffering, doubt, loneliness and eventually death are part of every person’s rhythm of life. We all want to live longer, but it is not the length of our lives that matters, it is the quality that matters and we have some control over that. Bro Emmanuel lived life to the full and for those of us who knew him, his life was ‘a benediction’. So now we should not mourn his passing but let him go where he truly belongs. In the words of some poet (whose name escapes me) he would say to us, ‘Please release me and let me go.’

Brother Emmanuel is now in God’s hands and in the words of St Paul, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, Our Lord.” In our grieving for him, let us also rejoice that he has reached his goal and let us bury our sorrow by doing good, just as he did.

May the example and dedication that Bro Emmanuel and other De La Salle Brothers (like Bro Louis. Bro Hilary, Bro Henry and Bro Dominic, to name but a few who have also gone to their reward) gave to promote the human, spiritual and moral education of youth, inspire our young people in Malta to follow the call of God. Bro Emmanuel’s passion must continue within the Lasallian family in Malta.

Bro Emmanuel, may your dear soul rest in peace.

 

Anton Callus

Old Stelmarian