Celebrating Jubilee

Earlier this month I celebrated my Silver Jubilee of Religious Profession… a moment to stop and wonder where did the last 25 years go?

As I thought about the anniversary I began to think about all the people who have been part of this journey alongside me – some for a short time others have been there throughout and I hope will continue to remain with me for the years to come.  For the Mass I chose to use the reading from Jeremiah “I know the plans I have for you…”  a gentle reminder that this life as an Ursuline Sister is not just my choice, it is part of God’s greater plan for my life.  My vocation to follow in the footsteps of Angela Merici was not just a choice I thought would be attractive at the time, it was an encounter in which God played the greater part – I just had to surrender to the call, which I might say was not an easy thing to do. In the words of the homilist at my Jubilee celebration “God’s providence is all embracing…it embraces all of time and eternity”. He continued “it is an encounter so radical that we can never walk away untouched or untransformed”. (Homilist – Fr Dwayne Gavin)

My jubilee celebration was not just about me – it was about all the people who have shared in the journey.  Each day of the 25 years have brought and continue to bring moments of encounter with God and with His people.  The celebration was about gathering together some of these people – to recognise them and say thank you to them for their love, their support and their kindness to me.  It was also a day to remember those who are now safe in the embrace of God but who none the less were significant figures in my life story.

As I look back I notice now the hand of God’s providence steering me forward, even when all seemed lost and dark and I stumbled along not making much progress – for this I give thanks.  For the people who have stood by me on this journey I give thanks and for those who will share the journey onwards I say thank you too – we may not have met yet, but God who is a God of encounter will bring us together at the right moment in time of his choosing.

Karen OSU

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