In one of his last duties in this parish, Catholic Archbishop of Canberra/Goulburn Mark Coleridge paid tribute to six Sisters at a Jubilee celebration last Wednesday. Fourteen clergy celebrated the Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church, including Mary Queen of Apostles parish priest Fr Dermid McDermott and former Canberra/Goulburn Archbishop Francis Carroll.

Srs Patricia Cunningham, Dawn Carey, Maureen McPhillips and Gerardine Agnew marked 60 years professed, while Srs Marie Jeanne Graham and Sr Carmel Drew celebrated 50 years.

They came from many different backgrounds and places, including Goulburn, Collector, Dubbo, Young, Coolamon, Queanbeyan and Leeton and joined the Sisters of St Joseph for diverse reasons. Congregational leader Sr Kerrie Cusack said they had made a future, not just awaited it and at the same time educated hundreds of children.

“These six Sisters we honour today set out to take up their appointments in some ‘God awful places,’ as Sr Jan Barnett calls them, where the spirit of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods beckoned to be heard in down to earth, practical and compassionate action that told people that they mattered,” Sr Kerrie said.

“In no way did these Sisters wait around to see what might happen next or leave their futures open to the lap of the gods. They grasped every opportunity to make a future that had an impact on others, believing that they were never on their own but blessed with the grace and providence of a God who loves them.”

In latter years they continued their service in many capacities, whether in retirement visiting the elderly or in community pastoral roles.

The Sisters, their families, colleagues and clergy enjoyed a lunch at the Workers Club following last Wednesday’s Mass.

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