Profession Ceremony
“The Life of a
Prophet” was the topic announced for the Sisters’ annual retreat this year, and
the retreat fulfilled the promise of such an intriguing title. The prophet
chosen was Eliseus, and we heard from Father MacPherson about burning your
bridges (no, sorry, your plow) behind you when you answer God’s call, about
taking the honour of God seriously (enough to have disrespectful children eaten
by bears), and about not losing faith if at first you don’t succeed (even if
what you are trying to do is stop a river by smacking it with a cloak).
Prophet” was the topic announced for the Sisters’ annual retreat this year, and
the retreat fulfilled the promise of such an intriguing title. The prophet
chosen was Eliseus, and we heard from Father MacPherson about burning your
bridges (no, sorry, your plow) behind you when you answer God’s call, about
taking the honour of God seriously (enough to have disrespectful children eaten
by bears), and about not losing faith if at first you don’t succeed (even if
what you are trying to do is stop a river by smacking it with a cloak).
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| From the lower right of this picture one can learn how to strike a river |
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A memorable story –
linked with the theme of charity: bears maul the children who mocked Eliseus.
Rest assured, we do not have
such things done to our pupils.  |
The retreat lasted from the fifteenth to the twenty-second
of December, but we received the final blessing of the retreat one day early,
as Father had to go to his mission in Auckland. This was providential as it
fell on the feast ofSt Thomas the Apostle, who
brought the Faith to Kerala inIndia ,
the home of Sister Maria Swarupa, who would be making final profession the next
day. And the next day, Sunday, was also the old feast of the Patronage of Our
Lady over the Dominican Order. SoSt
Thomas gave his daughter in the faith a final blessing
before placing her under the protection of the Queen of Apostles and Lady of
the Friars Preachers.
of December, but we received the final blessing of the retreat one day early,
as Father had to go to his mission in Auckland. This was providential as it
fell on the feast of
brought the Faith to Kerala in
the home of Sister Maria Swarupa, who would be making final profession the next
day. And the next day, Sunday, was also the old feast of the Patronage of Our
Lady over the Dominican Order. So
Thomas
before placing her under the protection of the Queen of Apostles and Lady of
the Friars Preachers.
On Sunday, at the sung Mass, Sister Marie Dominique renewed
her vows and Sister Maria Swarupa transferred her perpetual vows, made
twenty-four years ago, into the Dominican Order. For Sister Marie Dominique,
the ceremony was like answering “yes, of course!” to a fiancé who asks halfway
through the engagement, “are you sure
you want to marry me?” For Sister Swarupa, it was like giving the same answer
when your husband has been offered a job in a new country, far from your home
and people, and asks if you would go with him there. For both, the Dominican
vow of obedience was an act of love and a sign of God’s love for them, so after
giving thanks for the many graces of the day at Mass, we celebrated this great
occasion with a small reception at the school, at which we enjoyed seeing and
speaking to many fellow-parishioners and pupils.
her vows and Sister Maria Swarupa transferred her perpetual vows, made
twenty-four years ago, into the Dominican Order. For Sister Marie Dominique,
the ceremony was like answering “yes, of course!” to a fiancé who asks halfway
through the engagement, “are you sure
you want to marry me?” For Sister Swarupa, it was like giving the same answer
when your husband has been offered a job in a new country, far from your home
and people, and asks if you would go with him there. For both, the Dominican
vow of obedience was an act of love and a sign of God’s love for them, so after
giving thanks for the many graces of the day at Mass, we celebrated this great
occasion with a small reception at the school, at which we enjoyed seeing and
speaking to many fellow-parishioners and pupils.
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| Sister Marie Dominique makes a renewal of her temporary vows (for another two years) in the hands of Mother General |
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| The kiss of peace, given by the Superior, after the pronouncing of vows |
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| Sister Maria Swarupa pronounces her perpetual vows |
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| Father Louis Bochkoltz presides at the ceremony |
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| Father Bochkoltz pronounces the final blessing of the ceremony as Sister Swarupa prostrates in the sanctuary. She now wears a gold ring on her right hand, a visible sign of her eternal espousal to our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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| At the Communion rail |
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A photo of the community outside the Church, after the ceremony
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Dear Sisters, may Our Lord continue to bless you and give you perseverance in your holy vocations.
K. Van Keith
Dear Sr. Dominique and Sr. Swaruppa…..well done! Congratulations! Am so very happy for you. May God and Our Blessed Lady bless you and guide you always!
Mrs. Diana Lim