Sister Jamuna Magdeline Gomes, CSC

Celebrating Her Silver Jubilee

Sister Jamuna Magdeline Gomes, CSC, was born in Ikrashi, under Holy Rosary Parish, Hashnabad, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She comes from a family of one son and four daughters. Her mother, Clara Gomes, was a model for Sister Jamuna Magdeline’s life. Her mother died in 2015, but Sister Jamuna Magdeline remembers her as being loving, caring and always helpful toward her family and others. She always encouraged her children to help others. Her simple and hardworking life inspired Sister Jamuna to enter religious life. Sister Jamuna Magdeline also remembers her mother as a very energetic and prayerful person, and she misses her very much.

Sister Jamuna Magdeline’s brother, Father George A. Gomes, is the eldest of the siblings. Next in order are her sisters Florence Roma Halder, AnnaShompa Gomes and Rosemary Anita Gomes. Sister Jamuna Magdeline was born between AnnaShompa and Rosemary Anita. Her three sisters are married and have children and grandchildren. Sister Jamuna Magdeline visits them whenever she gets a chance, which brings her a lot of joy. She is very close to her younger sister, Anita, who is the first she reaches out to if she needs help. All of the Holy Cross sisters in Bangladesh know Anita, of whom Sister Jamuna Magdeline says, “She is always ready to do anything for me.”

About Her Ministry

Before entering the Congregation, Sister Jamuna Magdeline was a student. She made her initial profession of vows on December 6, 1996, and her perpetual profession on October 3, 2003.   

Most of Sister Jamuna Magdeline’s ministry has been spent in education, either as a teacher or student. After her first profession, she served two years as a teacher at Nirmola Education Centre, in parish ministry, and as an animator (group leader) of the Holy Childhood program in Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Bangladesh. She also visited families in the village and punjees (hilly places) and was involved with the village prayer group. Then followed three years as a student at Jyoti Nivas College, Bangalore, India. After continuing her education with a spirituality course at Adhayatma Vidya Pitham at Carmelaram in Bangalore, she went to St. Joseph Convent in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, and worked there until 2014.

In June of that year, she traveled to Bhadun, Gazipur, Bangladesh, as founding headmistress at Moreau Holy Cross School. In June 2020, she spent a few months in Savar, Deepaneeta, Bangladesh—the location of her formation house—then came to her present ministry as the headmistress at Shaheed Father Evance kindergarten school in Bakshanagar, Dhaka. In addition, Sister Jamuna Magdeline is a spiritual advisor for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Legion of Mary. She also visits families, participates in village prayer, and helps with other church activities.