Cluny Sisters celebrate Jubilees – 495 years of service

By Sr Paula Andrew SJC

Greetings of praise and congratulations filled the morning air. The date: Sunday, July 27; the venue: Emmaus Retreat Centre, Arima; the occasion: the celebration of the Eucharist, commemorating 495 years of service rendered to the Church and the people of God by eight Cluny Sisters of Trinidad and Tobago.

In jubilation, the assembly sang, ‘Praise the Lord, Yes Praise the Lord’, for the Platinum 70th anniversary of Religious Profession of Srs Regina Leiba, Genevieve Baptiste and Gertrude Tang Kai; the Sapphire 65th anniversary of Sr Claire Joseph; the Diamond 60th anniversary of Srs Juliana Annetta Alexander and Clare Harris and the Golden 50th anniversary of Srs Mary Jean Ayow and Grace Ramlakhan, in the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny.

Quite fittingly, there were many reasons for praise and thanksgiving. In generous self-giving, the Sisters had ventured out to our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean and worldwide.

Such were the sentiments expressed by Sr Maureen Alexander, SJC Provincial Leader, Province of the West Indies, in her congratulatory remarks. Specially remembered was Sr Gertrude, unable to attend because of ill-health.

Families, friends and co-workers of the Jubilarians were thanked for the significant role they played, as collaborators in the various missionary undertakings of these Jubilarians.

Chief celebrant, Fr Martin Sirju, Vicar General, conveyed congratulations and prayerful wishes on behalf of Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon. Fr Sirju expressed his personal greetings to the Jubilarians and Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny.

Missionary response

In answer to the Lord’s missionary call, these eight Sisters have rendered exemplary service in the field of education at pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary levels, as well as service to youth and in parish administration.

This missionary response began locally, developed as Sisters went out in response to the needs in Caribbean territories. Still others went to countries of Africa and later the Philippines and China, all in the spirit of our Foundress, Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey. Their commitment is beautifully echoed in the hymn, “With Anne Marie Today, You still speak to our hearts today O Blessed Anne Marie May your spirit show us the way As we proclaim God’s message of love”.

For the majority of Sisters present, the celebration of the Eucharist marked the end of their annual retreat led by Fr Gerard McGlone SJ.

The theme of the retreat, The Spirituality of the Upper Room, was well combined with the symbolism of the Eucharistic table around which participants were assembled. So, too, were the Readings of that Sunday.

Congratulating the Jubilarians, Fr McGlone encouraged one and all to grow in intimacy with the Lord and to persevere in the practice of prayer, not just prayer as asking for favours, as union with God—Father, Son and Spirit—and the experience of God’s presence, even in the midst of suffering and doubt. This led us back to the issues of our times—climate change, crime and violence, hunger and war, racism and poverty.

So challenged, Jubilarians followed by the Sisters assembled, renewed their vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, the official formula of the SJC Congregation.

Invited by Fr McGlone to see ourselves as beloved by the Lord, we were encouraged to go forth daily to love and serve each other. Mindful of the words of French Jesuit priest Teilhard de Chardin, “The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason to hope.”

Thank you, Frs Sirju and Mc Glone for these closing challenges as we, united with our sisters and brothers worldwide, “Proclaim Jubilee, Practise Jubilee, Celebrate Jubilee” in this Jubilee Year of Hope and onwards.