Homily by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi

Dear Sister Philomena,
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, we gather, with hearts full of gratitude and joy, not only to celebrate the Eucharist on this Easter season, but to mark a very special occasion: the Golden Jubilee of religious profession of our dear Sister Philomena, a faithful daughter of St Jeanne Jugan and a Little Sister of the Poor.

Fifty years of faithful service to the Lord, fifty years of loving dedication to the poor, fifty years of living the Gospel in the spirit of humility and charity that is the hallmark of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Gospel of the Risen Lord: “Peace be with you”

In today’s Gospel from Luke, we find the disciples still shaken, still processing the events of the Passion. Jesus had walked with the two on the road to Emmaus, revealed himself in the breaking of bread, and now appears to all, greeting them not with reproach, but with peace: “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:36).

This peace is not the absence of suffering – Sister Philomena knows this well. Fifty years of religious life have been filled with moments of both joy and trial, generosity and sacrifice. Yet through it all, she has heard the voice of the Risen Lord offering the same greeting: “Peace be with you.” It is a peace that comes from knowing Christ has conquered death, and that our lives are safe in his hands.

“You are witnesses of these things”

Jesus says: “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). How fitting this is for today! Sister Philomena, for fifty years you have been a witness – to the Gospel, to the dignity of the poor, to the beauty of a life freely given in love. In a world where the elderly and vulnerable are often forgotten, sidelined, or considered a burden, the witness of your life, your vocation has proclaimed a quiet but persistent truth: every life is precious.

You have made Jesus visible in your gentle care of the aged poor, in the humility of daily service, and in the joy of a heart consecrated to God. Your life has been a kind of Emmaus road for many – a place where, through your presence, others have come to recognise the Risen Lord.

The vocation of the Little Sisters of the Poor

The charism of your congregation is so profoundly Eucharistic. Like the disciples who recognised Jesus in the breaking of bread, the Little Sisters recognise him in the breaking of daily bread – sharing meals, offering hospitality, and caring tenderly for the aged and forgotten.

And it is no coincidence that this Gospel centres on the Risen Christ who eats with his friends. The Lord, risen and glorified, still chooses simple gestures – eating, touching, listening – to communicate his presence. You, Sister, have mirrored this Eucharistic love not in spectacular deeds, but in daily, faithful, hidden service.

As St Jeanne Jugan taught: “Never forget that the poor are Our Lord”. And so, for fifty years, you have served Jesus disguised in the elderly – feeding him, washing him, accompanying him to the threshold of eternity.

Jubilee: a time of thanksgiving and renewal

In the Scriptures, the Jubilee is a time of liberation, restoration, and joy. It is a time to return to the source, to remember that all is gift. Sister Philomena, today the Church rejoices with you – not mainly because of accomplishments, but because of your fidelity. In a culture that fears commitment, your “yes” for fifty years speaks volumes.

Sister Philomena, your “yes” has borne fruit in ways you may never fully see: in the peace you brought to a lonely soul, in the people who have seen in you a light that points to something greater – to Someone greater.

We give thanks for your perseverance, your hidden sacrifices, your smile in the corridors of your home, your hours before the Blessed Sacrament, and your unwavering trust in Divine Providence. And let us pray that many more hearts may be opened to the beauty of the consecrated life – especially in this congregation so dear to the heart of the Church, the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Keep walking with the Risen Lord

The Risen Jesus walked alongside his disciples, and he continues to walk with each of us. Dear Sister, today we thank you for walking with him these fifty years, and especially in the province of Africa for 44 years. We ask him now to walk with you into the next chapter, in New Mexico in Gallup, a missionary place for the elderly poor which belongs to the Province of Chicago in the USA.

May Our Lady, the humble handmaid of the Lord, accompany you.
May St Jeanne Jugan, your spiritual mother, smile upon you.
And may Jesus Christ, the Risen One, continue to say to your heart: “Peace be with you. You are my witness. Rejoice and be glad.”

✠ Joseph Galea-Curmi 
    Auxiliary Bishop of Malta