Diamond Jubilee

Diamond Jubilee Congratulations.

Tagore left us with many diamond gems to ponder on in life and one that is apt for us these days as we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Srs. Sheila Crowe, Bridie Lough and Kathleen McGrath is:

Have you not heard His silent steps….He comes, comes, ever comes.

These three brave Jubilarians listened and heard His silent steps, coming, coming, over these past 60 years, since they first said their ‘Yes’ to Him and continue to do so daily.

Sr. Isobel welcomed all to the celebration and said:
“Celebrating a Diamond Jubilee is always a very special occasion. It is even more special when we remember that our three jubilarians together with Sr. Colette were the first three Sisters to be professed here in Magheramore, sixty years ago today. The ceremony took place in the Chapel which is now our Dining Room. I can imagine the memories you must have today!
Leaving their homes in Limerick, Roscommon and Tipperary, their missionary journeys brought them to the States, Peru, Chile, the Philippines, Hong Kong and China. So, as we gather today we congratulate them and give thanks for the many blessings to them and through them over the sixty years. We remember their families where the seeds of the faith and vocation were sown, and we ask God to continue to bless them on the journey ahead.
This is the day. We will rejoice and give thanks”.

Sr. Redempta saw this occasion as “one of those ‘Aah!’ Autumn days when the sun shines and the gentleness of the season steals into our hearts. The fruitfulness of nature surrounded us filling us with joy.
It was a joy reflected on the faces of our three Diamond Jubilarians as they committed themselves all over again to the Lord to whom they had first vowed their lives 60 years ago.
Sheila Crowe from Co Limerick, Bridie Lough from Co Roscommon and Kathleen Mc Grath from Co Tipperary. Over the decades they had worked in the Philippines, in Peru, in Chile, in Hong Kong, in China and in Ireland. Missionaries from head to toe, from youth to old age, this was a day of gratitude, celebrating most of all the faithfulness of the Lord who was with them each step of the journey, in all the trials and in all the joys. With Mary, whose feast it was – the Name of Mary – they could and did echo her Magnificat with great joy.
The Eucharist was a joyful thanksgiving, with songs spilling out from our hearts as we praised the God who chose these three women to tell His name in foreign lands and bring people to Him.
The Sisters from Dublin and Magheramore joined in the celebrations, with heartfelt thanksgiving for these our Sisters, our missionaries, our friends. A delicious lunch enhanced the proceedings and we tucked in with gusto. Memories surfaced and stories were told reminding us all over again the goodness and the joy of the Lord for each one.
May He be praised forever!”

It was opportune that Sr. Susanna Choi, our Congregational Leader arrived just in time for the celebration, after bidding farewell to Myanmar, to take up her new role and responsibility in the Congregation, was able to grace the occasion with her presence.                                                                 Congratulations to Sheila, Bridie and Kathleen and may we never tire of listening for His steps:

             
Have you not heard His silent steps….He comes, comes, ever comes.

If you would like to know more about the Columban Sisters:
E-mail us : weboffice@columbansisters.org