By Catherine Wan
Theresa Liew Lian Nyuk entered the world on Jun 20, 1940, in Tuaran, the fourth of nine children born to Gerard Liew Fan Yu and Rose Lee Tshin Kiaw. Just ten days later, she was claimed for Christ at St John’s Church, Tuaran, in her first baptismal waters. On Jun 13, 1948, at Sacred Heart Church, Kota Kinabalu, she knelt for the Sacrament of Confirmation and took the name Alice, a quiet promise of what was to come.
After finishing her studies at St Francis Convent and Sacred Heart School, the seventeen-year-old Theresa stepped into the classroom. In 1957, she was accepted as a teacher at Stella Maris Primary School, honing her craft through in-house training and later at Kent College, Tuaran. But while she shaped young minds, her own soul was being shaped elsewhere.
Active in the Legion of Mary, a quiet fire began to burn within her, a religious vocation she could no longer ignore. Three years later, she confided her secret desire to a local sister, who urged her to write to the Mother Superior. When the favorable reply arrived, Theresa’s heart soared. But at home, a storm was brewing.
Her father’s objection was not merely disapproval, it was fury. He threatened to burn the convent to the ground if she dared to leave. For weeks, tension gripped the household. But sisters and priests surrounded the family with prayers and persuasion, and finally, begrudgingly, her father let her go.
On Jan 6, 1960, Theresa Liew crossed the threshold of Loreto Convent as a postulant and on Oct 4, 1960, when she received the holy habit, she was given a new name and a new life: Sister Cecilia Liew.
At the time of this interview, Sr Cecilia resides peacefully among the senior sisters at Stella Maris Convent, Tanjung Aru. Though she has stepped away from active ministry, her mind remains razor-sharp, and her heart still burns with a keen, unwavering concern for the Catholic Church in Sabah.
1. What kind of struggle did you encounter in responding to the religious life? How was it overcome?
Like any other vocation, whether married life or single life, religious life has its struggles too.
Just as I was responding seriously, my younger brother whose case was considered hopeless due to a heart failure, was discharged from hospital.
However, my mother being a woman of faith, brought me to the Eucharistic celebration, nine consecutive days. She promised that if her son survived, a thanksgiving mass would be offered at the beginning of each year. For the rest of the year, another Mass would be offered for the souls in the purgatory.
This promise was fulfilled faithfully till Rose Lee, OFS met sister death. Incidentally, my mother joined the Secular Franciscan Order in the eighties.
With God’s grace, my brother survived and able to work. Today, he is retired at his own family home.
2. How did religious community life help in your spiritual growth and maturity of faith?
66 years ago, I was accepted to join the local congregation of the Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC)
Coming from an average Catholic family background, religious community life enhanced my spiritual growth gradually. Our daily schedule stated regular time for all.
The whole community from Superior general, Novice Mistress, professed sisters, both perpetually and temporary, right down to Novices and postulants gathered at Loreto Convent chapel for daily Mass, morning prayer plus other devotional prayers.
Another area of similar setting was our refectory or dining room. Especially on Solemnities, Sundays and sisters’ feast days, we experienced great rejoicing. Otherwise, breakfast in silence while an appointed sister read the Franciscan Rule or articles from the constitutions etc.
In the afternoon, we had spiritual reading. The first book chosen for me was ‘Story of a Soul’. As my baptism name was Therese, I was deeply touched by her little way of doing things with great love all for Jesus. Towards the end of her short contemplative life in the monastery, she offered every painful step to save souls.
During our early formation, together with my peer group, we served Latin Masses celebrated by the late Right Rev Bishop James Buis, MHM facing the wall (Pre-Vatican).
By the time, our first profession date was approved, Vatican Council II was promulgated.
Consequently, lots of renewal seminars and adaptations took place. About five years later, I vowed to live my religious consecrated life perpetually.
After having gone through my initial formation just at the time of Great Renewal in the Catholic Church, various opportunities that helped to further strengthen my faith and vocation were granted to me.
Reading spiritual books on Angels and Saints are good. In addition, the daily reading, listening and reflecting on the Word of God was taken seriously.
In spite of challenges, maturity of faith will bear fruit, provided I continue to act justly, love unconditionally and walk humbly with my merciful God.
3. What can you say about the trend of vocation to religious life in Sabah?
World Day of Prayer for Vocations began 63 years ago. In 2022, the theme chosen by our dear late Pope Francis was: ‘Called to build the human family ‘
This was followed by a year of prayer for family. This is vitally important. Since every vocation is a call from God with a unique mission, the Sacrament of Marriage/Matrimony is no exception. After much prayer and discernment, each family through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit can help ‘Build the Human Family’, thus strengthening our local Church.
With the Parish or Diocesan on-going various programs, hopefully married couples will commit themselves in evangelizing their own children first (The Domestic Church).
Given this scenario, I am quite positive that religious vocations will continue to flourish and support the local church.
What a privilege and blessing for our young generation!
