Let’s Celebrate

Here is an account of the celebrations written by Sister Genevieve, Provincial, who shared these days of gathering and celebration, 

with our two Jubilarians.

Greetings  from the West Coast,

      We began the 70th Anniversary Celebrations on Sunday, March 7th  with a simple, but meaningful Vespers that Sister Mary Patrice had prepared.  Sister Loretto came from the Jeanne Jugan Assisted Living to the join the community in the Retreat House.  There we prayed together in one of the small sitting rooms.

    

  On the morning of March 8th we had Mass in the Chapel of the Jeanne Jugan Residence.  Along with the five of us Cluny Sisters, there were seven Little Sisters of the Poor,  a Lover of the Holy Cross and a Dominican Sister, who are from Vietnam, live in Jeanne Jugan and are studying in Loyola Marymount University.  Father. Patrick, a Norbertine priest, who has known us for at least 15 years officiated.  

      

      The Liturgy was for the 3rd Monday of Lent, and Father Patrick made a meaningful  connection with the story of the slave girl and Naaman, the leper, with the works of Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey to liberate slaves and with the leper colony in Acarouny .  He then recounted with biographical  details how Sisters Loretto and Ena had lived the charism and served the People of God during these the last 70 years.

    The prayers of petition included prayers for the Jubilarians.  At the conclusion of the Prayers of Petition, Sisters Ena and Loretto, stood before the altar and individually renewed their vows in a clear and strong voice.  Father Patrick thanked them for their fidelity in the name of the Church and I thanked them in the name of the Congregation for their example in living the charism of Blessed Anne-Marie. 

      

    Since, we could not have any singing, Sister Agnes, LSP, had chosen hymns from a CD, which were beautiful and so very appropriate to the occasion.

    

      After the Mass we moved to our community home for a festive meal, which our dear friend and companion, Maribelle had prepared.

Our dinner was relaxed and filled with memories of the past.  At each of Sister Ena’s and Loretto’s places, was a book with  the compiled reflections which I had received from the Sisters of the Province, many cards and good wishes.  The floral leis had been made by Sr. Linn, one of the Vietnamese Sisters.

      On Tuesday, Sister Loretto was once again with us as we had arranged a Zoom Call with her family in Ireland—about 16 members of her family all came on to offer their Congratulations.  Loretto was both touched and happy about the connection—literally and figuratively-- with the family, but most of all, as she said, “it was the best trip to Ireland that I have  ever taken”.  After the ‘second’ Jubilee dinne,r both Sister Ena andSister  Loretto were deeply appreciative, but also very tired. 

    For all of us, these have been days of grace and we are deeply grateful to God for allowing us to share our journey of faith with our Jubilarians, Sister Ena Maguire and Sister Loretto Moynihan.