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Summer 2003
Nuns
Bomana Carmel
Four Jubilee Sharings
1. Sr Eliane Chariot ocd
On 14th December 1952, in Lisieux, we celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Therese
as Patroness of the Missions. For 24 hours, every hour, there was a Mass in union
with the country where it was 7 o’clock, celebrated either by a national
or a missionary of the place. At that time, before the Council, there was no question
of concelebration. Well, it was a day of grace for us and for me in particular.
I remember very well my prayer to Therese: “I am happy as a lark here in
our Carmel, but if it must give more glory to God that I go to the Missions, manage.”
She must have done, because two years after I was sailing for the South Hemisphere
together with Sr Anne of the Trinity, now in Ormiston. An interesting point is
that on the 14 December 1952, Anne’s mother was in the chapel of Lisieux
Carmel praying for a companion for her daughter who was planning to go to Yule
Island. At the time I thought I was giving all but in reality I was to receive
so, so much. In spite of some very hard passages along the journey, had I to start
all over again, I would do it. Our God is a faithful God and we never regret being
faithful.
Sr Eliane Chariot ocd, began her Carmelite life in the Carmel of Lisieux, receiving
the habit from Sr. Pauline, the sister of St. Therese of Lisieux.
2. Sister Mary of the Cross, 86 years old
July 13th, 1942 - 2002. Diamond jubilee! Sixty years a spouse
of Jesus!
It hasn’t seemed that long at all. Apart from several rather tough times,
they have been happy years while I grew deeper into the love of God and our Blessed
Mother.
When several good priests knew I was to enter Carmel in Kew they tried to dissuade
me. One who had been in to attend to a dying Nun told me the house was damp and
would be unhealthy. It wasn’t.
Others told me the fast was very serious and with no meat and the extreme cold
of the place I would contract TB and die very young like Therese.
Another told me the beds were cement with straw over it! I had never read our
Holy Mother’s Life or Foundations or the other works so I did not take all
that seriously. Happily I had a good Spiritual Father who encouraged me with “His
grace is sufficient for me”. So I entered. Life in the Kew Carmel was strict
then, the old Constitutions fully observed. I did everything as well as I could
so that they wouldn’t send me away. One day I said that to my “angel”
who replied: “Oh, you aren’t like me. I was afraid they would not
send me away!” She is still there and precious.
I had wanted to join a missionary Congregation, but all doors were closed against
me and my Spiritual Father assured me I had a vocation for Carmel.
So when the PNG Carmel — then temporarily in Brisbane Carmel — appealed
for volunteers to return with them after the war I was delighted to be accepted.
I came up with Sister Marjorie Mary in 1947 and have been very happy here ever
since.
The grace of the jubilee was like a crowning of all the loving kindness of our
dear Lord and his Blessed Mother on all the years and I hope I can thank them
here for the rest of my life, then forever and ever in Heaven!
With love to you all and prayers
Yours, Mary of the Cross ocd
3. Sister Mary Aloysia, Philipina, 78 years
Golden Jubilee, 1952 - 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am starting the account of my Golden Jubilee
with an apology: I am not able to write for publication, but I am invited to do
it so I’ll do my best. My Jubilee is a really deep gratitude to God for
all that He has done for me in these 50 years of religious life. I can say that
I it is His work only for I have not done any good by my own. I admit that there
had been good things happening during these 50 years of my religious life, but
it was God who did it. As for myself, I cannot even compare my religious life
to the religiosity of a fervent postulant. And when I read what St Therese said
that since the age of three she never refused anything to Jesus, I think of how
many times I refused, not only 7 times, but seventy times seven. For when I look
at the footprints in the sand, there were not two pairs of foot prints all along
but only one pair though some times there were several foot prints muddled together.
That was when Jesus was stumbling under the weight of my infidelity and my feet
reached the sand. So Jesus reached the 50 years carrying me through.
Then also my gratitude goes to my beloved community. To them my very big thank
you for celebrating my Jubilee especially with the lovely liturgy presided by
the Bishop concelebrating with 6 different religious priests. And in spite of
being few in the community and none really young, the sisters amazed me by decorating
the sanctuary, the choir, even my doorway, all worthy of the Queen of Carmel.
They even prepared some refreshments for those who attended the ceremony in our
small chapel and a festive meal for us.
So all my gratitude goes from God to my community and back from them to God.
May I ask you all to pray for me that I may carry my Jubilee grace and blessing
to the end of my life. Thank you.
4. Sister Susana [niece of Mary Aloysia]
Silver Jubilee, feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1977 - 2002
The celebration of my Silver Jubilee came as a surprise to me. Having been
told that a silver jubilee was not as important as a golden one, I had concluded
that there was no celebration, except with the Community. So to have the papal
Nuncio as main Celebrant was still more surprising.
Early October, Sr Eliane asked me if I would be happy to have the Nuncio as main
Celebrant as he is a Filipino. At first I felt embarrassed to have a Nuncio for
my Silver Jubilee because I did not feel ready for a celebration. Even after 25
years, I felt I haven’t started yet! On the other hand it was a good reason
to invite him as we had not met him yet, and we shall find out afterwards he was
also wishing for an occasion to visit our Carmel. So I didn’t make any objection
but took it as a smile from our Lord and the Blessed Mother. It turned out to
be a real blessing. He was happy to be invited, appreciated our life very much
and gave a beautiful homily during mass. One Deacon and three priests concelebrated
with him while a couple of priests preferred to stand with the people in the chapel.
The community worked very hard to decorate the Chapel and made a lot of fuss to
make the day special. It was a great blessing indeed. Thank you.
Sr Susana Serafina of Jesus
Summer 2003 edition
Reflections of the Regional Vicar
This little reflection shares with you some experiences of my new role as
vicar.
Read this article by Aloysius Rego.
Friars
The Carmelite Friars have three houses in the Australian Region.
Box Hill - Morley - Varroville (Retreat Centre & Parish)
Nuns
Read personal sharings, community profiles, general information, jubilee news,
and lots more for the following Carmelite communities of nuns:
Bomana Carmel
Launceston Carmel
Christchurch Carmel
Goonellabah (Lismore) Carmel
Ormiston Carmel
Nedlands Carmel
Varroville Carmel
Other Sections
The Southern Cross Association
The Young Carmelite Group
Welcome to Aspirations
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