Mother, Helper, and Guardian of Vocation

My time as a deacon at Saint Joseph Spanish Town was profoundly shaped by the presence of Mrs Madge, a woman who served not merely as a house helper to the priest and me, but as a deeply loving mother and an unwitting guardian of our vocation.

Mrs Madge approached her duties with an attentiveness that bordered on devotion. She cooked every meal with palpable love, transforming simple ingredients into comforting sustenance. Her care extended far beyond the kitchen. She had a unique, generous spirit that led her to adopt not just me, but a line of seminarians, deacons and youths of Saint Joseph’s before me, into her extended family. She embodied unconditional, familial love in our rectory life.

I recall a simple yet powerful moment: the day she packed my snacks when I was heading to work. This small gesture, perhaps mundane to others, felt like an overwhelming expression of maternal love that sent a warmth bubbling up in my heart. It was a tangible sign that someone saw me, cared for me, and wished me well on my journey. She washed my clothes twice a week and ironed them with a lot of care, and later in the day she would arrange them in my room. She cleaned my bathroom even after I cleaned it myself and changed my bedding every week. 
Mrs Madge was called to rest on September 18, 2025. It was a blessing and a privilege to have been able to attend her send-off. During the service, I found myself hiding my tears on more than one occasion. I grieved for her daughter and son, who had lost their immediate, beloved mother. But I also grieved for myself, for I, too, had lost a loving, caring mother figure whose quiet strength and boundless affection anchored my earliest years of ministry. Her memory remains a beautiful, powerful testament to sacrificial love and service.