Sr. M. Fides Enos
I believe that my life’s destiny continues to be shaped and guided by the power of the Almighty. Being the only girl child in my family, I enjoyed the special love and attention of my parents, Clement Joseph Eons and Mary Machedo and my two siblings Michael and Ivan. Our parents rooted us strongly in the values of the Catholic faith.
Hailing from the Nilgiris, a noted blue mountain hill station, in Tamil Nadu, India, I cherished the scenic greenery of the tea estates. Young and enthusiastic, I enjoyed my carefree school days, with a lots of dreams for the future. I had absolutely no thoughts of entering the religious life. Here, I recall the words of Isaiah “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
The Lord found me at the right time and took me through a series of incidents for my own discernment.
During my school years, I would often fail in Hindi which was a difficult language for an Anglo-Indian, but a compulsory language in a Central Board of Secondary Education. Every year, I was promoted to the higher class with grace marks. When I reached my final year of school exams, I knew that I couldn’t get any grace marks. So, I made a pact with the Lord that I would attend daily Mass during my Christmas holidays. I began doing so. By the end of my school year, I got a taste for daily mass and continued this practice. The Lord was faithful to me and I passed my Final Exams.
Rev Fr. Daniel Joseph a fine, gentleman priest, committed to his pastoral duties was my spiritual director.
Meanwhile, my aunt, Sr. M. Immaculate Treasham, PDDM had come to visit us. Before leaving, she gave me a picture of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, which I kept safely in my prayer book.
I had two more aunts who were also religious. One was my mother’s twin sister, a teacher belonging to the FMM congregation, and the other, a nurse from St. Joseph of Tarbes. Both of them had invited me to join them in religious life. I was confused, anxious and disturbed. I was pulled towards the religious and the distractions of the world. I tried to turn my mind towards chasing my worldly dreams, but everything appeared meaningless.
Finally, I turned to the one who called me by my name. He said, “Plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you and plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11) I desired to live worthily. I wished to give the Lord the best years of my life, my youth. I felt, that on my knees in prayer, I would be happier than being a teacher or a nurse.
I decided to follow the Lord wholeheartedly as a PDDM Sister. However, getting permission from my Dad was difficult. I remembered the picture of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo and made a novena to him. I needed courage to inform my Dad of my intention to join the convent. On hearing me out, my Dad was very upset and said that I was getting off my head. After five days of silence, he told me, “You may go.”
I could feel the immense pain in my heart of leaving behind my loving home and family and all the things I loved to do. I turned my steps to the way of the cross to follow my call.
19th March 1965, a day etched in my memory forever, on the feast of St Joseph, I chose to make my entry into the Congregation of PDDM which is my dear family till date. Here I recall the words of Jesus “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt. 4: 19 -20). I was sent to Rome for my Novitiate. There, I had the joy and privilege of meeting our Beloved founder Blessed James Alberione, co–foundress Rev Mother Scholastica Rivata, Rev Mother General Lucia Ricci, and other sisters, who through their dedicated and exemplary life, influenced me to appreciate and understand the preciousness of my vocation.
After 7 years of joining the convent, I went home for my holidays and my Dad never spoke a word to me. Two years later, when he met me at the Tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, in Chennai, my dearest Dad reconciled with me, for becoming a religious. I felt peace. The apostolate of Eucharistic, Priestly, and Liturgical ministries moulded me to become a useful instrument for God’s people. The Divine Master found me worthy to be one of the pioneer members for the Bangalore and Chennai foundations.
It’s been fifty-five years since I consecrated my life to Jesus without any regret. Throughout this journey, my faithful Lord has been by my side, my light and my guide. I quote Isaiah, “You whom I have upheld since you were conceived and carried since your birth. I have made you and I will sustain you and rescue you”. Is 46: 3-4)
I wish to thank each person whom I have met through my life journey, who have moulded me to become the person I am today.
With gratitude to The Almighty, my Jesus, Mother Mary and St Joseph, I continue to cherish the preciousness of my PDDM religious vocation.