Sister Carmel A. Walsh OP celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession on December 1st, 2012. About fifty sisters, family and friends were delighted to gather, acknowledge and pray for Carmel at Good Shepherd College where Carmel teaches.

Celebrations began with a beautiful Eucharist in which Bishop Len Boyle (family friend), Brendan Daly and Merv Duffy SM (friends and colleagues of Carmel) concelebrated, and in which twenty Dominican sisters gathered around Carmel as she renewed her vows. The sisters responded enthusiastically with the hymn “I thank my God for you.”

After the participatory Eucharist, the MC, Bernie Cheyne OP invited guests to sit at tables, decorated with golden covers, navy serviettes and bowls of spring flowers. A delicious meal had been prepared by family and colleagues and celebrations continued with speeches, cake cutting and mingling of guests. Carmel’s brother Brian reminded the gathering that the ‘something special’ about Carmel and about the day was her link to origins in Invercargill. The Southlanders present were not slow to acclaim and reclaim their special status as well.

The day continued happily into the evening as some sisters re-gathered and shared further stories of Carmel and of the day in particular. The Jubilee was indeed a day of rejoicing. We wish Carmel Ad multos annos!

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