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Our Jubilarians in 2012
July 16, 2012 @ 8:00 am - July 17, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
Renewing their vows of Chastity, Obedience, Poverty and Zeal for souls at the Eucharistic celebration in Marymount Oratory on the 31st May 2012.
Sr. Colette and Sr. Eugene chose to celebrate their Golden Jubilee on 31st May 2012, the feast of the Visitation of Mary with the Sisters of the Province in Marymount Community.
The Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. Jacob Ong CSsR. During the liturgy, Sr. Eugene and Sr. Colette shared thoughts of their gratitude to the Lord for his care of them these past 50 years.
During the Eucharist, Sr. Maria Goretti strummed the guitar as we sang the hymns for Mass.
Sr. Eugene and Sr. Colette together sang this beautiful hymn of thanksgiving
God of my life, You gave your heart to me
God of my life, You gave your breath to me
God of my life, You gave your love to me. Alleluia
You gave your love, oh, so tenderly
You ask our love, oh, so painfully
Both are your hands caressing me, Alleluia
Oh, I am poor, as poor can be
I give your strength a chance to show in me
God of my life, you gave your life to me,
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
(An artpiece drawn by Sr. Eugene)
Our Sisters, the family of Sr. Colette and Sr. Eugene’s elder brother and his wife were present. All joined the sisters for dinner after the Mass.
Good Shepherd Sisters Blessed Mother Teresa’s Sisters
Good Shepherd Sisters Blessed Mother Teresa’s Sisters
Sr. Colette and her sister Mary and and brothers, Reggie and Eddy
Cutting the Jubilee cake. Sr. Colette’s brother and sister-in-law kindly sent in two cakes for the Jubilarians
Sr. Elizabeth Lim wrote to Rome for the Blessing of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal Blessing for the Jubilarians. This was displayed in the Dining Room. Sr. Cecilia Cheang who celebrated her jubilee in February 2012 also received the Papal Blessing
Family:
Sr. Eugene comes from a family of 12 children. She is the sixth child. Her father died young and her mother bravely brought up all her children to become successful men and women today with beautiful families of their own. Her eldest brother Joe remembers how each of the older ones took care of their younger brothers and sisters. He cherishes memories of how he took care of Eugene (her baptismal name is Christine). One of the stories he recalls is that she was riding pillion on his bicycle. He heard her whimpering and stopping his bicycle he saw that his little sister’s ankle had been caught in one of the spooks of the bicycle. She bore the pain heroically.
Sr. Eugene’s vocation story:
She completed her’ O’ Levels and desired very much to enter the Convent. She told her Mum and siblings. However her Dad objected, and would not allow her to do so, because as she says, he knew her character so very well. He even told her he would consent to her sister becoming a nun but not Christine. The Lord had his hand on Eugene and in 1959 after her Dad passed away she was able to answer the call to live the religious life.
Her Reflections:
Sr. Eugene says she went through much difficulty even earlier when she felt the Lord’s call to a deeper union with him. She loves children and she desired very much to have a family of her own. For some years she struggled with this. She says, “Like Jonah, the prophet I was running away from the Lord, doing all kinds of things to distract myself.” At a Parish mission she accepted the fact that the Lord was not going to take ‘No’ for an answer from her. She spoke to her Parish Priest and with his encouragement she stepped out confidently and said, ‘Yes’ to Jesus. A precious moment that many of us recall with deep reverence.
Why the Good Shepherd Congregation?
Looking back 50 years later, Sr. Eugene writes, “I chose the Good Shepherd Sisters because I was very touched when Sr. Columba Cannon, the Novice Mistress said to me when I visited the Sisters at Marymount. “You are very welcome to join us, but if you find another place that you like, I will be happy for you too.” I made my decision and joined the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters in early December 1959.”
She is a former student of Marymount Convent School. She was asked by the sister-in-charge to do her ‘O’ levels in Marymount Convent School so that she (sister-in-charge) could study her closely before receiving her into the Order of the Good Shepherd. Her early primary and secondary education was at St. Joseph’s Convent of the Infant Jesus.
Ministries:
After 2 years of study in Australia Sr. Eugene worked among teenage girls in Marymount Vocational Centre and was Head of the School there teaching and preparing the girls for the GCE ‘O’ level examinations. She was missioned to Bangkok, Thailand for 8 months, and also lived with the Community in Johor, Malaysia. She taught Catechism in the Marymount Convent School for many years. Sr. Eugene has been and still is teaching in Marymount Kindergarten. She is currently the Music Teacher and her love for the children is endearing. Sr. Eugene is a familiar and welcome face in the Parish of the Holy Family. She is in charge of the Choir which sings at the 7.15am Mass every Sunday. We appreciate her dedication to this ministry in the Parish, for early morning showers will not keep her from being with the choir every Sunday. She has been working in the Parish for 6 years in the 80’s and for the last ten years and continues to this day.
Sr. Eugene has many talents, one of which is for art. She has drawn many pieces. These have been sold at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels where she attends the Art Therapy Centre regularly.
In gratitude to her family, Sr. Eugene had a concelebrated Mass the week before her Jubilee. The celebrants were Fr. Aloysius Ong and Fr. Cyril Lee. Her large family and extended members were present. The choir members of the Holy Family Church added to the solemnity of the Mass with their beautiful singing.
From the Archives:
Here’s a photograph that brings back memories, when in the early days we had singing practices. Dear Sr. Liguori Young (rip) used to tell us, “Put three fingers in your mouth vertically. That’s how big you must open your mouths when you sing”. We still sing melodiously.
Sr. Colette’s Vocation Story:
Sr. Colette shares, “It was on the day of my Confirmation that I received the gift of my vocation. I was fourteen.” She recalls that during the talk by Redemptorist priest, Rev. Fr. Dowling, who prepared them for the Sacrament, she was struck by what he preached. He spoke about the importance of three gifts of the Spirit in one’s life, Wisdom, Strength and Zeal.
Zeal was what struck deep in her heart. Her Parish Priest took a group of ladies to visit the various Convents. Sr. Colette was drawn to the teenage girls looked after by the Good Shepherd Sisters. These girls were happy, and delighted the group with their singing and dancing.
She decided to enter the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters. She says, “I met Sr. Columba Cannon the Novice Mistress and she advised me to come in as soon as possible.”
Her Family:
Sr. Colette comes from a family of 8 children, 5 girls (including herself) and three boys. Colette is third in the family.
Sr. Colette recalls, “It wasn’t easy to get the permission of my parents, as I was earning and helped the family financially. I was teaching in a Government School . However, my parents never stopped me. They wanted me to be happy in whatever choice I made.” Her family found it difficult to accept her decision as they were a closely knit family.
She shares, “I thank my eldest sister, Mary, who helped and supported me.” It was tough for Colette to leave her family whom she loved very much. She kept her faith and trust in the Lord.
At the age of 14 she had heard the Lord’s call to become a religious sister. After a long wait she entered the Convent at the age of 24 on 31st December 1959. (Photo on the left, Sr Colette with her family on Clothing Day).
Her Ministries:
Sr. Colette was missioned to our Convent in Kuala Lumpur where she worked with teenage girls. She returned to Marymount and taught for a year in Marymount Convent School. She was appointed Supervisor of our Kampong Java Kindergarten and served there for 10 years. She worked with the children in the Student Care and touched many lives with her caring and gentle ways. She taught Catechism in the Parish of the Holy Spirit.
Today, because of her health she spends time in prayer and welcomes the French and Korean Catholic Communities who use our Convent Chapel.
“…therefore I have called you by name,
You are mine.”
Is. 43: 1
Written by Sr. M. Gerard Fernandez rgs – June 2012