MY CALL AS A DSH

I am Sr. Feliciana Saliba, born at Marsa, my parents were Emanuel and Guza Saliba. I was the eldest from among nine children; and was brought up well. My mother who was a member of Catholic Action used to take us with her for holy Mass and inculcated in us love for the Holy Eucharist. I learnt a lot from our parish priest Rev. Fr. Felician Bilocca OFM Cap and he guided me to choose my way of life as a religious.

It was not easy for me to tell my mother as I was earning a good salary for my family by doing the embroidery work. With the grace of God I broke the news to my mum about my plan of joining a convent to discern my vocation, and for my surprise, my mother was very happy and encouraged me to do so.

I wanted to join the cloistered of St. Scholastica, where my friend had just joined. My confessor who knew me quite well did not agree with my choice and told me to choose a convent where there is prayer and work. I always had a great love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and so I took the initiative to consecrate our family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, and chose to join the Congregation “Daughters of the Sacred Heart.” My confessor agreed with my decision and he called me for a three days retreat and enlightened about religious life. This was a great help for me to face the challenges of religious life.

On 16 July 1951 at the age of twenty, I joined the convent at Zurrieq in Malta. I sincerely thank God and Fr. Felician Bilocca OFM Cap for his teaching and guidance, and my mother for her prayers and support in my journey of faith. I am happy about my choice to be a religious in our Congregation and I always obeyed the Superiors in whom I saw the will of God, by following the example of our Foundress Mother Maria Teresa Nuzzo.