{"id":4924,"date":"2014-01-13T04:23:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-13T04:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2014\/01\/13\/feast-of-the-epiphany-2014-our-lady-of-the-holy-rosary-convent-australia\/"},"modified":"2023-05-10T02:57:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T02:57:06","slug":"feast-of-the-epiphany-2014-our-lady-of-the-holy-rosary-convent-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/2014\/01\/13\/feast-of-the-epiphany-2014-our-lady-of-the-holy-rosary-convent-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Feast of the Epiphany 2014, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Convent, Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nAt the conclusion of 2013 and at the start of 2014 we were blessed with a
\nwonderful retreat preached by Reverend Fr Robert MacPherson, who is currently stationed in
\nWanganui, New Zealand.  It is always a
\nspecial privilege to end and start a year with holy reflections and blessings. During
\nthis time, we did not go anywhere else, yet in the silence of our little
\ntemporary convent in 35 Granite Lane, Tynong, we meditated and reflected on the theological
\nvirtues and holy vows of religion as reflected in the life of the prophet
\nEliseus, supplemented with Holy Scripture, the writings of St Augustine, St
\nBernard and other saints. Thus armed with holy thoughts and good
\nresolutions we were again fortified for this year\u2019s battle towards sainthood and the salvation of souls. We again express our grateful thanks to Fr MacPherson
\nand even though it poured with rain at the end of retreat, we considered it was a symbol of abundant blessings
\nfor the year ahead. However we did pray<\/span> for beautiful weather for the next day
\n\u2013 the Feast of the Epiphany \u2013 a very special day for our Congregation, for it entailed the
\nreception of the habit for our four Postulants and First Profession for two
\nNovices.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nOn the awaited day, despite the
\novercast sky, light rain and little attendance of our faithful parishioners (although we w<\/span>ere especially grateful to the presence of these few faithful, friends, and particularly to the loving and very supportive parents and family members of our Postulants and Novices who travelled from afar to be with us), <\/span>the
\nceremony began with solemnity.  We were overjoyed to have a grand Schola and choir – the Schola was
\nled by Reverend Fr Couture, District Superior of Asia, who flew in that day from Singapore as well as Reverend Fathers Delsorte and
\nBelisle, the Prior and Assistant Prior of Corpus Christi Church. We were also blessed with a visiting seminarian, Mr Patrick Kennedy and members of the Parish Schola.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nA young lady has to be courageous
\nand generous to follow God\u2019s call.  Our “little” Postulants displayed this generosity and valour as they asked for the holy habit after having completed their time of postulancy.
\nLike the three wise men from the East who offered the little infant Jesus, gold, frankincense and myrrh, our dear Postulants offered their very selves as
\nspecial gifts for the little King.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nWhat do you seek?<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nGod\u2019s mercy and yours, Father.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/a>  <\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nShe hurries to lay
\ndown the hair of her head for His love <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nthat He may give her
\nthe Holy Ghost, <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nthat He may preserve
\nthe perpetual habit of Holy Religion in her,<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nand defend her heart from the distractions of the world and from worldly desires…<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nJust as she is
\nchanged in head and face, in the same way may His right hand give her an
\nincrease of virtue and open her eyes from all spiritual blindness and pour upon
\nher the light of eternal glory.<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nReceive dear sister the crown of thorns in memory of the crown of Our
\nLord <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nand if you wear the crown of thorns of tribulation in this life you will
\nbe rewarded by your Spouse with a crown of glory for evermore in the life to
\ncome<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nNames in the Old Testament usually signify
\nsomething. They refer to, as the Catholic <\/span><\/span>Encyclopedia<\/span> stresses, \u201ceither to some trait of a child, actual or prophetic, or to some feeling or hope in the
\nparent at the time of its birth\u201d. A change of condition too, demanded a
\nchange of name, for instance; the conversion of Abram to Abraham \u2013 \u201cbecause I
\nhave made thee a father of many nations\u201d (Genesis 17:5). And so our new little Novices
\nreceived new names, that they may be detached from the world and enter the religious state. Attached to the name is the name of the Mother of God, \u201cMary\u201d
\nin whose protection St Dominic entrusted the Order of Preachers and another
\nname (preferably Dominican) in order to imitate their virtues and sanctity. For
\nall of us, this was the most exciting part \u2013 to hear the new names of our dear little
\nSisters.  <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nMiss
\nMaria Beatriz Pi\u00f1a Mejia from Mexico took the name <\/span><\/div>\n
\nSister Maria Dolores<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nMiss Anna
\nCristen from Kansas, U.S.A. took the name <\/span><\/div>\n
\nSister Mary Amata<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nMiss Cara Ruegg from Maryland, U.S.A. took the name <\/span><\/div>\n
\nSister Mary Francis<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nMiss Emilyn Ng from Singapore took the name <\/span><\/div>\n
\nSister Mary Imelda<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\nTo
\nadd to our excitement, our two American Novices, Sr Mary
\nJohanna and Sr Mary Thomas pronounced their first vows.   <\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n   <\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/a>  <\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n \u201cJust as Jesus hidden under sacramental species is a source of
\ngrace to those who approach Him in proportion to their dispositions (faith, hope,
\ncharity, humility) thus also the graces we will receive from Jesus hidden in
\nour Superiors will be in proportion to the dispositions with which we approach
\nthem.\u201d Dom Marmion<\/i><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201cthe eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress\u201d <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n(
\nPsalms 122: 2)<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
\nFr Fullerton, the District Superior of Australia and New
\nZealand, preached an inspiring sermon on humility, taking the example of Our Lord who was
\nborn in a manger and on the Religious vows, pointing out obedience as the key
\nto all the vows and the hardest of all; for by it a Sister submits her own will. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nBehind the cloud, the sun is always shining, as the saying goes, so with happy
\nfaces in thanksgiving for new graces received were able to process outside for a “family” photo. We also extend our grateful thanks to Fr Stephens and Fr Du
\nChazaud for being with us on this solemn occasion.    <\/span>        <\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n        <\/span><\/div>\n
\nCongratulations to our new
\nNovices and Professed Sisters!<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nTo all the Fathers, Parishioners, Friends,
\nParents and all our family members abroad, thank you for all your prayers. God bless you all!        <\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nWe ask for your earnest prayers for the perseverance of our
\nnew Novices and the fidelity of our newly Professed Sisters. We also make an urgent appeal to
\nyour ever generous hearts to help us build our New Convent in Tynong. God
\nreward you!<\/span><\/o:p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the conclusion of 2013 and at the start of 2014 we were blessed with a wonderful retreat preached by Reverend Fr Robert MacPherson, who is currently stationed in Wanganui, New Zealand.  It is always a special privilege to end and start a year with holy reflections and blessings. During this time, we did not … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-convent-life","infinite-scroll-item","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5266,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4924\/revisions\/5266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opsisters.org.nz\/preview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}