Golden Jubilarians celebrating 50 years at Mary MacKillop Chapel in North Sydney and Diamond Jubilarians celebrating 60 years at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.
Twenty-eight Sisters of Saint Joseph from across the Congregation have celebrated their Golden and Diamond Jubilees marking 50 years and 60 years since their first profession. They were able to gather and acknowledge the event at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney where they celebrated with other Sisters, family and friends.
Congregational Leader, Sister Monica Cavanagh, welcomed the Jubilarians, Sisters and guests to the Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Jubilarians were invited to renew their vows by Sister Monica, and their renewed commitment was met with applause from the Congregation.
“Fifty and sixty years ago these Sisters embarked on a journey,” says Sr Monica. “Like St Joseph, they stepped into new and unfamiliar places with courage, offering their gifts for the mission entrusted to us as Josephites. They have served generously in rural and city communities, in education, pastoral care, First Nations communities, catechetics, nursing, social work, and spirituality enrichment, living among the people amid everyday life.
Like Mary MacKillop, they have been channels of God’s grace and love wherever they were sent. The divine spark which first called these Sisters continues to shine brightly. We congratulate them – we express our appreciation for them – our Golden and Diamond Jubilarians.
For the Golden Jubilarians, an overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude marked the occasion.
“It a real milestone to reach 50 years as a Sister,” says Sr Catherine Trinh who joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph after arriving in Australia from Vietnam in 1975. “In my ministry I am involved with two schools in Sydney helping refugee parents who have come to Australia. I feel privileged to be able to communicate with them in the schools and vice versa. I feel this is an opportunity for me to show Christ’s face and bring the gospel to other people in my world.”
“We have always strived to share the spirit of Mary MacKillop with people everywhere we were and are,” says Sr Kathryn Sweeney. “And I hope for that to continue. The evidence is there that Mary’s spirit is alive and well through the people with whom we engage, in schools, parishes and communities.”
That sense of community engagement and support was also a driving force in the decision of Sr Clare Koch to join the Sisters of Saint Joseph 60 years ago.
“I grew up in a family which was very community and people focussed,” says Sr Clare. “This outlook was part of my DNA and has been a motivating force throughout my religious life. It is about being amid people, being able to support where you can, and do what you can.
“We have all been faithful to six decades of responding to the call to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God; a mission that continues today.”
Those Sisters who could not attend the Jubilees were remembered, particularly the seven Sisters from the Golden and Diamond Jubilee profession groups now resting with God.