PANAJI
Five nuns from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth celebrated the Silver Jubilee of their religious profession at Our Lady of Rosary Church in Navelim.
Fr Gabriel Coutinho, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church, presided over the Eucharistic celebration along with Fr Polly Lobo (Parish Priest of St Alex Church, Calangute), Fr Jose Roque Gonsalves (Director of Clergy Home, Margao) and 28 priests as concelebrants.
“Jesus was faithful to these nuns in these 25 years, therefore we praise and sing a song of gratitude to Him,” said Fr Polly Lobo, while delivering a homily at the Eucharistic Celebration held at the Navelim church on the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Sr Sukuria Dias, Sr Saude Rodrigues, Sr Precila Lobo, Sr Anserine D’Souza and Sr Gracia Silveira.
The faithful also prayed during the Eucharistic celebration for late Sr Anita Godinho, who was a companion of these Jubilarians.
“These nuns served the people and shared love through the eyes of God,” said Fr Polly, and focused on the importance of priests and religious with an approach of holiness in their interaction with people in the society and the mission entrusted to them.
He congratulated the jubilarians for giving hope while serving society at large, depending on God and loving God above all else.
“Make your life a story, not a history so that people will come to know that to serve God, serve Jesus, is something beautiful,” said Fr Polly.
Fr Simon D’Cunha, Chaplain at St Joaquim Chapel in Borda, led the liturgical singing along with his parishioners.
Later speaking after the Mass, Sr Berna Rodrigues SFN, Mother General of the Congregation, said: “As my sisters celebrate 25 years of Religious life, I thank God for the gift of them to our congregation and as a head of the congregation to me personally.”
Sr Sukuria, who hails from Cuncolim, is presently Counsellor and incharge of the hostel in the mission of Noida Delhi. Sr Saude and Sr Gracia are from Utorda and while Sr Saude serves the community of St Anne’s Convent, Cansaulim as Superior, Sr Gracia belongs to Holy Family Convent Usgão.
Sr Precila, who is a native of Cananguinim, serves as teacher at St Michael’s High School, Anjuna, while Sr Anserine, who hails from Panchwadi, is a teacher at Perpetual Succour Convent High School, Navelim.
A small felicitation programme was held where Jubilarian nuns cut the cake and the Goan Mando based on the life and mission of the Jubilarians was presented under the leadership of Sr Jenifer Fernandes SFN. Sr Valantina Vaz compered the felicitation programme.
