A Day of Celebration

2024 was to be a year of celebrations within the English Province. We had many milestone Jubilees and Birthdays and decided to celebrate them all together on one day. We celebrated the 95th Birthdays of Sisters Veronica Gissing and Catherine Pennyfather. The Platinum Jubilee of Sr Catherine Pennyfather, the Diamond Jubilees of Sisters Colette Traveller and Frances Browne, the 90th birthdays of Sisters Una McCreesh, Jayne Horswill, Zela Procter and Beatrice Garnett and the birthdays of Sisters Dorothy Perrott, Jackie Doherty, Jenefer Glencross, Theresa Canty and Armida Veglio.

 Sr Armida and Sr Una

On the 17th May at our Forest Gate Community, Sisters and staff from across the Province, came together to begin the celebrations. The Mass, one of Thanksgiving, with Father John Jesus from St Antony’s parish, included our choice of readings from the Letter to the Philippians and the Gospel of John, together with hymns ‘Earthen vessels’ and ‘Be still . . . for the presence of the Lord’. The liturgy truly reflected the joyous occasion of the day.

After Mass we went on to ‘Luigis’, an Italian restaurant in Ilford for a celebration lunch. The room had been decorated with balloons, banners and confetti on all the tables. The food was delicious, with excellent service from the staff. We finished with our celebration cake, cut by Sr Jayne on behalf of us all.

Sisters Jayne, Beatrice and Antonia

For me, the most memorable part of this meal was to have the opportunity to share together, with all who have been part of our lives for so long.  Much gratitude was expressed to all our Ursuline staff and especially to our Provincial Sister Kathleen Colmer. 

-Sr Beatrice Garnett