Carmelites leave hostel, hand over to Sisters of Mercy

GUYANA

It was with “joy and sorrow” that the Sisters of Mercy and the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters gathered at St Bernadette’s Hostel, Georgetown, on the afternoon of Friday, May 30.

A simple prayer Service marked the conclusion of 75 years of service to the young women of St Bernadette’s by the Carmelite community, and the handing over of the ministry to the direction of the Sisters of Mercy.

A report by Catholic Standard said that the Service was led by Sr Katrina Charles O Carm, Prioress General of the Carmelite community.

Held on the eve of the Feast of the Visitation, Sr Julie Matthews RSM, Institute Minister of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, reflected that the evening “was indeed a visitation”–the Carmelites “pregnant with compassion and service, and the mercies, pregnant with hope and mercy.” Several current and past residents of St Bernadette’s were in attendance, along with Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB of Georgetown.

Religious Sisters and residents shared memories and joys–the love of the Carmelite Sisters for the young women, and the young women’s mutual love for the Sisters was tangible.

Bishop Alleyne thanked the Carmelites for their decades of service to the people of Guyana, particularly the young women who sought refuge at St Bernadette’s Hostel over the years.

According to the diocesan weekly, the Corpus Christi Carmelites came to Guyana 75 years ago from Trinidad to manage St Bernadette’s Hostel. St Bernadette’s was built in 1950 as a ‘home away from home’ for young women. It was officially opened on February 18, 1950, the Feast of St Bernadette.

In February of this year, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of St Bernadette’s Hostel was celebrated, along with the celebration of the Carmelite Sisters’ 75 years of service in Guyana.

In addition to managing St Bernadette’s, the Carmelites were also involved in counselling and education, which included, at one time, teaching catechism classes in several parishes.

After 75 years of dedicated service in Guyana, the Corpus Christi Carmelites have returned to Trinidad, as the majority of the five Sisters who were serving there are elderly.