An icon of deep faith and great vision

Rev Mother Mary Gertrude Perera (1894-1971),

In this month of December in 2021, Christians as well as Buddhist communities in Galle and several other areas where there are communities of the Holy Angels order of nuns, will commemorate the memory of Rev. Mother Gertrude; the co-founder and the first Superior General of Holy Angels. The 15th of December 2021 will be the day that marks her 50th death anniversary.

The Late Most Reverend Bishop Van Reeth SJ was the founder of the Holy Angels congregation. In 1923, he made it an independent order of nuns and Rev. Sr. Gertrude was carefully handpicked to lead the first community of the Holy Angels sisters at St Michael’s Convent, Ganegama. She was then only 29-years-old.

When she took over the leadership, it had been a challenging role for her at such a young age. During that time there had been many impoverished families in Ganegama and Baddegama areas. They had all begun to gather at the convent for all their needs. It is said, that she always received everyone with a warm and a welcoming smile and distributed whatever donations she received from the well-to-do families.

When she was fulfilling her role amidst many challenges, the loss of Most Reverend Bishop Van Reeth, who was her master and guide, left a great void but she was never discouraged. She relentlessly carried out her duties.

As she dedicatedly led the community, she came to be popularly referred to as “loving mother Gertrude” by the elders, most of them are no more with us. She had a reputation to be a gentle and a kind-hearted woman, understanding the needs of the elders. They described her as an icon of deep faith and great vision.

In 1942, when she was appointed Directress of Novices, there had been many applicants from all parts of the country who left their home comforts and arrived at St Michael’s Convent to join as novices. These included several members from the same family as well. Whatever limitations they themselves had to encounter, they had all witnessed the love and affection shown by Mother Gertrude to the poor in the area making many personal sacrifices. This action had been exemplary, which had helped the novices to embrace the values of poverty.

My grandmother, who was aware of the responsibilities this young nun was facing, had been supportive and understanding towards her. As a result, my late father Francis, my uncle the late Rev. Fr. Cyril Edirisinghe, and my aunt the late Rev. Sr. Elizabeth of Holy Angels, were all aware of the challenging role Rev Mother Gertrude undertook, at the age of 29.

On a personal note, when I was 2 ½ years old, my mother was a teacher at St Anthony’s School, Ganegama. She had taken me to the convent in the adjoining building and entrusted me to Rev Mother Gertrude for my formative education who had warmheartedly accepted me and given me the nursery education for three years. I still remember a few things vividly. The motherly love she displayed, the tea bun she gave me every morning and showed me so much of affection and the little chair she got a carpenter to make for me, which came to be known as Robert’s chair.

During the latter years of her life, when she was bedridden, the community of nuns gave her every comfort and attended to her every need. She was accommodated in the room directly opposite the chapel and she engaged her time in peaceful prayer in the company of caring nuns until her last breath.

During my visits to her till 1971, I witnessed this myself. She always remained happy and content in the company of the caring nuns. Although many years have passed since my nursery days, her loving manner remained unchanged. She chatted animatedly and talked about my morning tea bun and the chair, which was still in the convent veranda when I visited her even in those last days.

Mother Gertrude’s saintly devotion to the Lord and the hard labour she rendered to the people of all classes and creeds, in Ganegama, from the convent on the hill, will always be remembered. Her name will be synonymous with St Michael’s Convent. She will be lovingly remembered, and her name will always echo in our hearts.

Athula Edirisinghe of Boralukada Walauwa, Baddegama