News - June 11, 2011
Eight Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Celebrate 470 Years of Ministry
Standing (l to r): Sister Kathleen McBride, CSJP (50 yrs.), Sister Mary McLeod, CSJP (50 yrs.),
Sister Lelia Walsh, CSJP (50 yrs.), Sister Eileen Byrne, CSJP (60 yrs.),
Sister Mary Doyle, CSJP (50 yrs.)
Sitting (l to r): Sister Mary Aloyz Reilly, CSJP (60 yrs.), Sister Mary Campion, CSJP (75 yrs.),
Sister Brigid Martin, CSJP (75 yrs.)
There was much joy in the tranquil setting of the Sacred Heart Convent, Rearsby, Leicestershire on the morning of 11 June as the Jubilarians greeted Sisters, Associates and the Byrne family arriving to join in their celebration. The eight sisters, Brigid Martin, Mary Campion, Eileen Byrne, Marie Aloyz Reilly, Mary Doyle, Kathleen McBride, Mary McLeod and Leila Walsh were marking 470 years of service between them.
The liturgy which began with the singing of Let us Build a House, by Marty Haugen after which Sister Bridgetta Rooney, CSJP, welcomed everyone present and this included Sister Margaret Byrne, CSJP, the Congregation Leader and Sister Anne Hayes, CSJP of the Leadership Team who had come to join the Jubilarians on the special day. The liturgy also included the singing of Lord, I Give My Life To You, a hymn composed by Peter Rose and Anne Conlon especially in honour of Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop. Fr. Antonio Belsito, of the Rosminian Order, and chaplain to the sisters in Rearsby presented the homily and he was joined by concelebrants Fathers David Tobin, Simo
n Giles and Michael Hare, also Rosminian priests, and Fr Adrian Chatterton, friend of the sisters. Readings included a reading from the Constitutions (No13) and after the distribution of communion the Jubilarians renewed their vows.
The Eucharist concluded with the singing of Christ, Be our Light by Bernadette Farrell and the festivities continued with lunch and a great deal of conversation by all in sharing the pleasure of the occasion.