GOLDEN JUBILEE OF SISTER OF MERCY

New Zealand Tablet, 4 September 1919, Page 18

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF SISTER OF MERCY

** ;*■ A PIONEER RELIGIOUS HONORED. v ' On Sunday, August' 17, the 50th anniversary of the profession of Sister M. Justina McGee took place at •] St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, Auckland (writes an esteemed correspondent). As a fitting commemoration of the event, Solemn High Mass was sung at 9 a.m. by Father Bradley, the Very Rev. . Father Buckley "being deacon, and Father Murphy (lately from Ireland) subdeacon. The Mass was sung effectively by the Convent Choir, which also rendered the "Jubilate in Aeternum," during the singing of which, the customary wreath was placed on the jubilarian. . Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given at 5 p.m. Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook delivered an eloquent sermon on the occasion. "The golden jubilee of a Sister of Mercythe completion of the fiftieth year of the profession of Sister Justina—how can I better 'express the humble Sister's feelings and those of the Rev. Mother, the community, and all their friends, than in the inspired words of Our Lady, when on her visit of mercy to her cousin St. Elizabeth: 'Magnificat Anima mea' ? Surely He that is mighty hath done great things for Sister Justina. Favored by a special grace, called apart in her earliest years to-tho quiet retreat of the convent life, placed under the personal care of the holy foundress in New Zealand. Mother M. Cecilia Maker, of Carlow, the jubilarian of to-day shares, in part, the glory of St. Mary's described by the illustrious Cardinal Moran in his monumental History of the Church (page 906): 'They, the Sisters of Mercy, proved themselves true apostles to both the Europeans and the Maoris in Auckland and throughout the whole diocese. Amid all the vicissitudes of that diocese when missions were forsaken, and when difficulties arose such as seldom have befallen a colonial diocese, for that suffering church was for years encompassed on every side with the terrors and ravages of savage warfare, and with its direful consequences, dissensions,' desolation, ruin, and a crushing burden of debt, nevertheless, throughout that trying period St. Mary's Convent of Mercy in Auckland was a true fortress of the faith and preserved and handed on to the faithful-of the diocese the traditions of piety, and the blessings of religion.' If I mistake not, Sister Mary Justina is the first New Zealand-born Sister to celebrate the golden jubilee of religious profession, and almost the only living link of the past with the present. What has passed since that memorable year 1869, the year of the Vatican Council—the year of the Sister's profession? Fifty years a Sister of Mercy! Only the recording angel can tell —work for God, for neighbor, and for personal sanctification. The true value may be assessed by the judgment standard—the works of mercy. During the week we read in the papers of the passing away of two of the world's greatest-the Philosopher of Zeno, whose life work was to rob man of destiny, negation of the existence of God, and that man is not, in the words of the psalmist, ' little less than the angels,' but only a little more than the ape ; the other the multimillionaire who from the workers amassed millions and erected some monuments to perpetuate his name and memory— Andrew Carnegie. Compare, if you can, the half-cen-tury of life of these two worldlings and the Sister of Mercy. Judge not by the world's standards, but by the Cross and Last Judgment : ' What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world?' In the ordinary course of life Sister Justina. may not have many more years to endure the exile from her Father's Home. To our well-beloved Sister we say: May all your remaining years I>9 happy and peaceful, in closer union with Jesus and Mary. It is fifty years since God's anointed minister addressed to you the invitation in the profession, ' Redde vota Altissinio; Veni Sponsa Christi..'- When death arrives, not the messenger, but the Master Himself will say to you, ;.' Veni Sponsa— Coronam.' Dear Sister, on this auspicious day accept.our sincerest and heartiest, congratulations.. May : God and His

Blessed ;• Mother \ be » praised * for - all - their 3 goodness > to?: Sister- Justina and the community of St. Mary's. May? the \ religious spirit of.; your holy foundress still • flourish within these hallowed, walls of your i sacred convent?, home. May the lives, dedicated and consecrated by the»: triple : bonds of voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity,, and willing, obedience, knit all still more closely together for the greater honor and glory of God. Maythe works of mercy, spiritual and corporal, characteristic of the Order be your passports to the arms of Jesus and Mary. . Our hymn to-day, 'Jubilate in Aeternuni/ may it be ours always. As the years pass and time is no more may we realise more fully the meaning and message of to-day's jubilee celebrations. 'Magnificafe Anima Mea Dominum.' "