Celebrating 70 years of the Pastorelle Sisters Presence in Australiaand the Welcoming of new Pauline Cooperators

On Sunday, 28^th June, the Pastorelle Sisters celebrated the 70^th anniversary of their foundation in Australia, and the welcome of new Pauline Cooperators[1].

The celebration was held on at St Damian’s Parish in Bundoora, Victoria, marked with a mini-concert and followed by the Eucharistic celebration. The afternoon began at 1.00 pm with Sr Mary warmly welcoming everyone gathered to give thanks to God for the 70 years of the Pastorelle Sisters pastoral presence in Australia; years of blessedness, years of encounters with countless people, years of sharing the Good News and living the paschal mystery in our daily lives.

Sr Mary also shared a brief history of the Pastorelle Sisters’ journey through the 70 years: Italy, Philippines, Australia, acknowledging God’s ever faithfulness to us, and on our part, faith, trust in the Good Shepherd and care of God’s flock as hallmarks of the journey.

In the first part of the celebration gratitude was expressed in song; a mini-concert performed by three different groups:

The True North Young Adults Group.

A group of young people who seek to foster a sense of community, enriched by its diversity, with members from different cultural backgrounds, occupations and life stages faith journeys.

Their songs were: Shepherd me O God. Be Thou, My Vision.  Now Thank We All Our God, and Gratitude

Peter Bentley who is Sr Doreen’s nephew. His songs reflect the human experience of loving deeply, in life and in death; the struggles that come our way and the support we receive in our times of need and he sang: Annie’s Song and Let it be.

And thirdly, was the lovely young pregnant mum, Olvia Chamoun-Canavan, who stands as a beacon of light and hope to all who know her. Her strong faith and commitment to family and to the parish community, are an inspiration to all who know her. Olivia sang: Oh the Deep Deep love of Jesus, and the Ave Maria.

The mini-concert was followed by the Eucharistic celebration at 2.00 p.m. with Fr Michael Goonan SSP as the principal Celebrant and ten concelebrants including Fr Dong our parish priest.  The parish choir provided the music and songs which were familiar to all and the whole congregation heartfully joined in.

During the Eucharistic celebration, fifteen people who had been preparing for the last twelve months, presented themselves to be received as Pauline Cooperators by making their official Promise.  Each new Cooperator received the Prayers of the Pauline Family and the PF emblem. In solidarity, a small number of current Pauline Cooperators also renewed their Promise.

In his homily Fr Michael highlighted the theme of hospitality taken from the first reading. He said that hospitality has been an enduring characteristic of the Pastorelle Sisters, which he reinforced by referring to the words of Blessed James Alberione to them: “They are to be the sisters, mothers, teachers, catechists and consolers in every sorrow, a continuous presence of light and kindness in the parish.”  This spirit of hospitality is also present as they welcome these new Pauline Cooperators today, inviting them to share in their charism, their prayer life and their pastoral service.

At the end of the celebration, all were invited for refreshments in the parish hall, to mingle, reminisce and enjoy the anniversary cake, a cake which was shared by Sr Candida who was celebrating her 89^th birthday!

The event was very well attended. Friends, past and present, from many parts of Melbourne and as far as from Sydney and Adelaide, members of the Pauline Family, fellow religious sisters and brothers from various Congregations and parishioners all honoured us with their presence, and together we honoured the memory of the Pastorelle Sisters who have lived, worked and died in Australia. Our hearts full of gratitude for what has been, open for all that will be.

Sr Rita Ruzzene, sjbp

[1] The Sisters arrived in Melbourne on 14 November 1955, exactly one month after leaving Triest in the North of Italy, on board of the Flaminia.