Golden Jubilee Celebration 2007

Sunday 25 March at Kedron Qld was the occasion for the celebration of 50 years of profession for Sisters Rita Johnston and Frances Crowe. At the 9.30am Mass in the parish church of St Therese and St Anthony the sisters renewed their life vows. Sister Maureen Andrews, Congregational Leader, in her address thanked the parish community for their hospitality because although these two sisters made their religious training in Kedron, they had spent most of their lives on far away mission projects that took them to Papua New Guinea, outback Australia, China, Northern Ireland and England, as well as parish and migrant work in Sydney and Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads and Kedron.

Father Bernie Thomas OFM was the celebrant. Many Franciscan Sisters were there to applaud the two jubiliarians on their fidelity to their religious commitment. They came from Sydney, Morwell in Victoria, Northern Rivers NSW, Bardon, Aspley, Merrimac and Coomera.

Relatives of the sisters journeyed to Kedron to represent family. Sister Rita’s sister, Beryl Mathey, came from Ipswich with her daughters, Veronica and Julie and their husbands; past pupils Margaret and Teresa Erikson came from the Gold Coast.

Sister Frances’ sister, Patricia Eason, came from Melbourne with her daughters Simone, Charmaine, Lisa, and relative, Susan Sharky. Maree Martin of Wavell Heights, Margaret and Rosemary Dunshea, and Pauline and Keith Webster were present at the Mass and afterwards all came to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club for luncheon. There many stories were told of the sisters and their missionary lives. It was a day of celebration.

Return to main Notes and News page

To Top of Page

© Missionary Franciscan Sisters, Australian Governance Circle