The Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in Lymington have had not one, but two reasons to celebrate. Two of their community made their solemn and first professions of faith.
A large congregation from the length and breadth of the diocese and further afield gathered together in joyful prayer at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth, to celebrate the Holy Mass for the Rite of Perpetual Religious Profession of Sr. Mary Carino O.P. Fr. Nicholas Crowe, O.P., acted as the principle celebrant. There was a real celebratory atmosphere afterwards when everyone enjoyed delicious cakes with tea. After a few years of pandemic restrictions there was great enthusiasm in meeting old friends and new ones whom we have only met virtually to date. The joy of Sr. Carino’s profession was followed two days later by another day of blessings on when, in their Priory chapel, Sr. Máire Cooey Fowler O.P. professed her first vows as a Dominican Sister of St. Joseph for a period of three years. Many of Sr. Cooey’s Irish family had travelled over for the occasion, a first for most due to the pandemic. |