This year, the Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar experienced a unique jubilee event on 18 October when four Sisters from four different decades celebrated the anniversaries of their religious profession.
Sr Carmel Moore celebrated her platinum jubilee of seventy years, Sr Helen Anne Johnson her diamond jubilee of sixty years, Sr Marie Hughes her golden jubilee of fifty years and Sr Louise Gannon her ruby jubilee of forty years.
Family, friends, former ministry colleagues, staff members and fellow Sisters of St Joseph gathered in a beautifully decorated room at the Hexham Bowling Club for the celebration. After the Acknowledgement of Country, Sr Patricia McCarthy, Congregational Leader welcomed everyone to such a significant occasion. All joined in the Jubilee Prayer of Thanksgiving before the meal was served.
With formalities kept to a minimum, the room was soon a buzz of conversation and laughter as people took the opportunity to tell stories and renew acquaintances over a generous dinner.
The formalities resumed for the cutting of the jubilee cake before Sr Marie offered words of thanks on behalf of the Jubilarians to Congregation’s Leadership Team, the Sisters’ organising group and the families and friends who came, some from long distances to make the day so special.
Sr Marie traced how the jubilees told an interesting story about the second half of our Congregation’s history. Sr Carmel professed in 1955, lived a strong communal life with her Sisters in the schools and convent. Sr Helen Anne, professed in 1965 coincided with the closing days of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1975 when Sr Marie was professed, the challenging and exciting reforms of that Council were in the process of being implemented in all aspects of religious life. By the time of Sr Louise’s profession in 1985, her introduction to religious life were much wider than that of our Lochinvar Congregation. Her peers belonged to many different congregations.
In conclusion, Sr Marie remarked that though their journeys had been different, it was their commitment as Sisters of St Joseph, Lochinvar that united them.
Generous applause not only affirmed Sr Marie’s words, it also expressed appreciation of and gratitude for our Sister Jubilarians – Carmel, Helen Anne, Marie and Louise.
Sr Maureen Salmon rsj
