Not everyone can
understand how you can love other people’s
children as if they were your own, but for Sister Michaela Paris, it all comes naturally. On this Mother’s Day, Josanne Cassar speaks to her about what it means to be a different kind of ‘mother’
Sister Michaela joined the Ursuline Sisters’ Congregation 22 years ago and has always worked with children. For the past 18 years, she has been assigned by the Mother Superior to teach at the congregation’s kindergarten, St. Angela’s Nursery.
“I have always been devoted to children from a very young age. Being the youngest in a family of eight I always wished for a younger brother or sister to care for. Instead I was a babysitter to my nephews and nieces. When I joined the Ursuline Sisters at the age of 18, an order which is well-known for its work with children, I never considered what work I would be assigned. I simply answered the Lord’s call to follow Him.”
There are 21 sisters looking after the children at what many refer to as ‘the crèche’.
Sr Michaela teaches a group of 22 children aged between 3 to 5 years. There are children from the home attending the nursery together with other children from various families in the Sliema vicinity.
I ask her how the children at the home react when a new child arrives.
“We are always happy to receive new comers with abundant love and respect. Not all children react with the same feelings towards a new comer. Mostly the children spontaneously accept their new peers with joy, happily making new friends and sharing toys. On occasions when the new comer is upset, the sister in charge introduces the child to the group gradually giving the children plenty of time to get accustomed to each other and make friends. There is always a sad feeling that accompanies our happiness. We feel sadness for children who suffer the trauma of separation from their parents or from abuse. We welcome the children, giving them the possibility of living in a healthy and loving environment. Here the children live as a family according to age groups.”
The work of the sisters at the crèche not only requires wholehearted dedication but the ability to deal with a variety of delicate situations.
“The lives of these little children are sometimes full of fear. They live in a world that is confusing to them. We aim to instill a deep sense of security through love and acceptance. We develop the formation of their character by broadening their values while reassuring them that they are important to us and to the world. Whenever a particular child has to move on in life either through foster care or to go back to their natural family, we make sure they are well prepared for this transition. Our motto is to “Love and let go”. We always form a bond with each child hence the parting is never easy. So, with tears in our eyes and a smile on our faces we bid them: ‘Goodbye! Hope to see you soon!’” Sister Michaela says.
There are mothers who find it difficult and stressful to cope with even one child, so I ask Sr Michaela how she manages to spread her love and attention to so many little ones, all of whom are demanding affection from her. How does she manage to cope with them all?
She smiles, making it all sound very easy: “Children generate love and affection. It is so natural and spontaneous for us to fall in love with all the children. I believe this is God’s blessing to each and every Ursuline Sister. I would like to quote our dear founders words, Mons. Isidor Formosa: “O! Ursuline Sister, you work tirelessly for the little ones in those cradles… you satisfy all their slightest needs. You feed them, you wipe away their tears and all this you do with so much love!” We take it as our responsibility to reach all their individual needs and to show them individual love and affection. No child is a number. The children in our care are never lonely or without love. Our strongest motive is to shower them with abundant tender loving care.”
Perhaps the question most people ask is whether it is possible to love another woman’s child as if he/she were your own. But Sr Michaela looks at it differently,
“Some might think it is too difficult to have such maternal love for children that are not our own. In our case, the children in our care are born to us through the Heart of Jesus. It is God’s grace to each Ursuline Sister to bless us with an open heart and fill us with love for each child. This seems to come quite naturally to all of us. May I quote once again our founders words here: “As in the arms of a sweet loving mother, are young children in the arms of an Ursuline Sister.” They are brought to us in His loving providence and as I said, it is His special grace to each Ursuline Sister to have a profound and maternal love for each individual child. It is not easy to explain our feelings and love towards these children, except that they are born in our hearts and we love them with God’s passionate love.”
Happy Mother’s Day to all those who are taking care of children, whether they are their ‘own’ or not...