The ceremony was held in the Chapel at St. Mary’s Dominican High School, New Orleans, LA, founded by the Congregation in 1860. Sr. Phuong ministers as an assistant in the school’s Guidance Department.
Sr. Dorothy Trosclair, delegate of the Prioress, received Sr. Phuong’s vows. Providing the music was the school’s Laudare Music Ministry, led by Lauren Bordelon with accompaniment by Kenny Lannes. Dominican Sisters of Peace Prioress, Pat Twohill, OP, and Formation Coordinator Pat Dual, OP, addressed attendees via video link from Columbus, OH. Fr. John Restrepo, O.P., St. Martin de Porres Province, presided at Eucharist.
1938 – 2021
Sister Jean Fitzpatrick, a Missionary Sister of St. Columban passed away on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at St. Columban’s on the Lake. Sister Jean had resided at St. Columban’s for 26 years, and died peacefully in the company of her Columban community, the wonderful and devoted caring staff and the Hospice staff.
Sister Jean (Gail) Fitzpatrick was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Oct. 14, 1938 to Mildred McBride and Frank Fitzpatrick and received her early education in Brooklyn. Later she studied at LeMoyne College, Syracuse where she graduated with a BA in English.
After graduation, Gail decided to commit her life to God and to the service of others. She chose the Irish missionary order of Columban Sister and became a Postulant in Hyde Park, Boston, M.A. in the fall of 1960. She was received into the Congregation, as a Novice, April 25, 1961 taking the religious name Sister Mary Jean. On April 26, 1963 she made her First Profession in Hyde Park.
A quick walk up the path, and a ring of a doorbell brings a warm greeting from Mother Miriam Joseph, and introductions to Mother Superior Rachel and Mother Mary Joanna. Resplendent in black and white habits – handmade by the mothers themselves – in a world where nuns are no longer a common sight, the trio are the very picture of how a society that rarely sees nuns except in film and popular culture depictions would imagine them. Over a cuppa and a plate of biscuits, the three share their way of life for the net 90 minutes.
Tom Lee/Stuff
The Tyburn Monastery south of Rotorua is home to four nuns and was established in 2009.
By Ivy Chai
The Carmelite Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Religious Profession of Sister Mary John of the Cross on 8 December 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic had limited the Diamond Jubilee celebration to the attendance of only a small group of family members, relatives and close friends of Sr Mary John.
The Thanksgiving Mass celebrated at the Carmelite Chapel coincided with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was presided over by Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh, with Archbishop Emeritus John Ha and Fr Larry Tan concelebrating.
Archbishop Simon described Carmelite nuns as religious sisters committing their lives to God to the very end. They live a life of obedience, poverty, chastity; living and dying within the walls of the monastery. He called on the congregation to pray for Sr Mary John and all the Sisters in Carmel, adding “they also pray for us.”