Sr Théresè Dookeran: 50 years of religious life

If you had to bow before a priest, nun or angel, to whom would you bow first?

Archbishop Jason Gordon examined this scenario while delivering his homily for the golden jubilee celebration of Sr Therese Vidia Dookeran OP, Saturday, October 2, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

He told those gathered for the Anniversary Mass at the Holy Name Convent Chapel, Port of Spain, that he will bow to the nun before the angel.

Archbishop Gordon explained, “When a woman chooses to be a nun, she chooses the humble way. She chooses a life of obedience, poverty and a life of chastity. By choosing this way of life, she chooses to become least in our world, like a little child. She chooses not to be part of the fanfare of the world, but to be part of the Kingdom of God.”

He said although the day marked the observance of the Feast of the Holy Angels, it is also a wonderful celebration and feast for consecrated life. The Archbishop referred to Sr Therese as a witness to consecrated life.

The religious life, Archbishop Gordon observed, has very little meaning in today’s society where persons become “efficient, pragmatic” and driven by success, personal ambition and gain.

“The driving question that the generation asks is, ‘What is in it for me?’… the religious ask a different question: ‘How can I serve God?’.”

According to the Archbishop, it is in that choice of dedication to the will of God, the religious points to “a very bright light” to all points of society reminding us that this world is not about the money, pleasure and accolades.

“These things will die and disappear. There is a Kingdom to be had. There is a treasure to be received. There is a Kingdom that has been given to us by God, and the whole life of the religious is to remind our society that God’s Kingdom is more important than anything we can do here on earth.”

Referring to the gospel reading that the little child is the “greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18), Archbishop Gordon asserted that the religious would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God because they would be the people of obedience, humility, chastity, poverty, “not holding anything for themselves, but giving everything they have for the sake of God’s Kingdom.”

“So, I would bow to the religious before the angels because they remind us what is most precious. That our Catholic world is not to be understood by what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears. Our Catholic world is only to be understood ultimately by what we know in our hearts that God is real and a life with God is the greatest life we can even have.”

Archbishop Gordon congratulated Sr Therese on her golden jubilee of religious profession. He then thanked her on behalf of the many people who would have been present from all the various ministries she has worked with throughout the Caribbean.

“The angels are bumping into me…because this place is tight with angels that they have sent to be here with you on this wonderful day.”

During her 50 years of religious life, Sr Therese has been involved in World Youth Day, COR, Youth for Christ and Couples for Christ in the Archdiocese and extensively throughout the Caribbean, including Antigua, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Speaking to Catholic News, Sr Sandra Xavier OP described Sr Therese as a “visionary person” who has a passion for youth ministry and went “full swing”.

In her brief remarks, Sr Therese commented that her 50 years of service was “wonderful” and involved hard work and expressed gratitude to persons for their support throughout the years.

“I worked with teams. I’ve done so much with all those who supported me. Sometimes we quarrel but we make up in short time. I’m very, very happy especially because of the people who helped me to work, and I’m glad I was able to do something beautiful for God,” Sr Therese said.