GOOD BYE SR. CLARE
Your Grace, Rev. Dr.Bernard Moras, Fr. Nathan – Our Spiritual Director, Fathers, Sisters and many dear friends.
Welcome everyone to this special occasion and a bitter – sweet one for us. On behalf of the Catholic Enquiry Centre, I deem it a pleasure to say a few words about Sr. Clare during this farewell.
Sr. Clare hails from Bangalore. Soon after completing her education, she decided to join the ‘Daughters of St. Paul’. When somebody asked her whether she wanted to be one of those who went house to house selling books, her reply was that they were carrying Jesus in their bags and that she wanted to do the same. But according to their parent’s wish and begin the second among the nine children she was obliged to spend a year at home, looking after her younger siblings. She started her spiritual journey in the year 1968, after undergoing training at Bombay.
She was a full-fledged ‘Daughters of St. Paul’ after her Profession in the year 1973. Ever since, she has relentlessly served in different parts of India, from the North to South and from the East to West. She had already served her two terms in CEC Bangalore and now she has been with us for the past nine years.
I first met Sr. Clare at the CEC Regional Meeting in Bangalore. I had come as a representative of SuSandesha Kendra – Belgaum. When I told her that I would be shifting to Bangalore, she at once retorted saying, “Why don’t you come and join CEC Bangalore?” Ever since, I have the pleasure of working with her and knowing her all the more.
As a person, it won’t be an exaggeration to call her an overflowing spring of enthusiasm and vigor. With lots of warmth and kindness and an ever smiling face, she has the wonderful charisma for interacting with people of different categories, castes, creeds and ages. Her knack for getting things done with determination is worth mentioning.
Come Thursday and Sr. Clare would be there to welcome us with open arms and a broad smile. She would enquire about our heath and our family’s well being. She would request us to refresh ourselves with tea and snacks and make us fell at home. Our annual recollection outing was always a day of joy for the young and old. Sr. Clare would strive for days together to make it a fun filled day. She would never forget to wish the birthday boys and girls and put up their names and pictures on the notice board.
Like the ‘Little Flower’ of Jesus she endeared herself to us by paying heed to the smallest and minutest details. She would always come up with novel ideas and during meetings, discuss ways to put them into practice – all for the love of Evangelization. Her ‘free as the breeze’ attitude helped us to keep a close bond with her. On the whole she has the privilege of serving the call of duty, with courage, commitment, vision and sprit, which all of us value so much.
Dear Sister, the time has come to say ‘Good Bye’ you have to follow the vow of obedience and we have to accept it. We’ll be missing you Sister – a lot! We’ll be missing your smiling face, your friendliness, your open-hearted our Director but for being a friend, philosopher and guide.
May the Good Lord continue to shower his choicest blessings on you, give you good health of mind and body and help keep alive the spirit of Evangelization burning in your heart forever..
‘Good byes’ are not forever,
‘Good byes’ are not the end,
They simply mean ‘we’ll miss you’,
Until we meet again.
May the Good Lord hold you in the hollow of his hand.
From your loving,
CEC FAMILY
11th March, 2015
