Celebrating Mater and our two Marys

RSCJ and guests at Duchesne House spent Tuesday 20th October celebrating the feast of Mater Admirabilis alongside two jubilees of First Vows, totalling 145 years of vowed commitment. One of the RSCJ present has sent us this account...

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We had a wonderful Celebration beginning with a Mass for the Feast of Mater Admirabilis and to celebrate with two of this year’s jubilarians - Mary Wright RSCJ of 75 years and Mary Grant RSCJ of 70 years since First Profession. All RSCJs renewed our vows with the two Marys.

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Mary Grant writes

The two of us are full of love and gratitude for all the graces of these seven decades. Looking back over the years we can see how faithful the Lord has been in good times and in bad, and what wonderful opportunities he has given us to serve in our various ministries in the Society. So it is with very full hearts that we sang the final hymn, Our Lady’s Magnificat, in our celebratory Mass on Mater’s Feast Day.

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Msgr Jim Cronin gave the homily in his personable and heartwarming way. Our two Comboni Fathers from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Roehampton, Fr Louis and Fr Gordon, concelebrated alongside him.

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Fr Jim spoke of the seismic shift that our two Marys have experienced in their long -time commitment whilst in the Society of the Sacred Heart, which they embarked on courageously, by responding to the needs of the post-War world. He outlined so well how this feast of the pondering and contemplating Mary was, and is so appropriate in our world, and leaves no doubt as to its aptness for the Society whose work is Education.

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He quoted Professor Mary Hallaway OBE who had been a pupil at Woldingham. When she became the first Principal of the combined Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds in 1980 she asked for a large copy of Pauline Perdrau’s painting so that she could introduce it to all her students - so influenced she had been by Mater and the significance of Contemplation. Mary pondered her future, what it would hold, what challenges would occur and what it would look like; this is such a fitting model for pupils and students at this formative time in their lives.

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This lovely Mass was followed by a great get-together in the community room, where we filled the space and greeted each other warmly. How beautifully the staff had decorated the ceilings and walls with hangings, white balloons and photographs - a magnificent sight! A buffet was laid out that almost took one’s breath away. Our cooks, Sue and Jackie, really ‘did us proud’ with choice of hot, cold or mixed lunch. Jackie had made two lovely celebration cakes.

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An enormous THANK YOU to all who made this unforgettable celebration possible: Melody, Annette and the Duchesne team, RSCJs who were able to join, Duchesne community, Mary Grant’s cousin (Pam), friends and volunteers, Fathers Jim, Louis and Gordon. And of course, to our two Marys, for 145 years (and more to come) of vowed fidelity and loving service, making known the love of Jesus' Heart in so many different places and ways!

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