By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — The Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) celebrated their Anniversary with a special Golden Jubilee Mass for three SSFS nuns at Blessed Sacrament Church on 11 December 2022.
Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh presided over the Mass, concelebrated by Archbishops Emeriti Peter Chung and John Ha, and 13 priests from the various religious orders serving in the Kuching Archdiocese.
Renewing Commitments
Holding lit candles before their Superior General Sr Rose Wong, Sisters Justina Theodore, Audrey Jinep and Esther Mapil renewed the commitments they made at their First Religious Profession on 30 July 1972.
Sr Justina is an Iban from Kanowit. Sr Audrey is Bidayuh and hails from Bau, while Sr Esther is a Dusun from Sabah. They have served in many apostolates in different parts of Sarawak during their 50 years of dedicated religious life.
In his homily, Archbishop Simon expressed his gratitude to the parents and siblings of these Sisters, as they have served unconditionally as religious sisters for 50 years.
The prelate acknowledged Srs Justina and Audrey as gifts from the two oldest Catholic communities in Kanowit and Bau, a testimony of the faith of the community, and Sr Esther as a gift from Sabah.
In extending his congratulations, the Archbishop also reminded the congregation to rejoice and be joyful, as the rose coloured vestment he was wearing for the Third Sunday of Advent calls for all to rejoice as we await the second coming of Our Lord.