The Sisters joined Bishop Shane Mackinlay, Bishop Les Tomlinson, Fr Andrew Fewings PP and other priests of the diocese for prayers by the graveside of the five Sisters who have gone to God; Sister Baptista, Sister Bonaventure, Sister Mary of the Angels, Sister Gerard and Sister Colette. “The acknowledgement of the deceased community members gave recognition to them as an important part of the whole story of contemplative life in Sandhurst,” said Bishop Tomlinson.

Graveside prayers were followed by Mass. Bishop Shane struck a chord with many of the attendees acknowledging that the farewell celebrations were both joyful and sad. 

“It is Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in the season of Lent – in this time of penance and recollection, which anticipates the joy of the Easter celebrations; it is with mixed feelings that we come together today, both with sadness at the end of an era, and giving thanks for the Sisters’ presence amongst us; and celebrating with them their move to new communities to continue their life of contemplation,” said Bishop Shane.

Bishop Shane wore the pectoral cross of Bishop Bernard Stewart, as a reminder of Bishop Stewart’s critical involvement in the presence of the Poor Clares in the diocese. It was Bishop Stewart who, seeking a community of contemplation and prayer in Sandhurst, invited the Poor Clares to Bendigo over half a century ago.

In June 1965, eight Poor Clare Colettine Sisters arrived in Victoria. They moved in to the purpose-built Monastery of the Holy Ghost in Kennington on 7 December 1966, and Bishop Stewart concelebrated the consecration of the Chapel and the enclosure of the Monastery on 8 December 1966.

Fr Andrew Fewings, Parish Priest of Kennington recounted the Mass of Consecration. “I wasn’t a priest then; I was eleven years old and was one of two Altar servers with three priests, Bishop Stewart and a camera man from Channel 8 filming it all,” said Fr Fewings to much warm laughter from attendees.

Bishop Mackinlay acknowledged the presence of Bishop Leslie Tomlinson who had been very involved with the Poor Clares’ difficult decision to close the Monastery and make plans for the future lives of Mother Anthony, Sister Christopher and Sister Clare. Bishop Tomlinson later said, “Having to accompany the Sisters in their decision and to then petition the Holy See to suppress the Monastery was one of my most melancholy duties as Bishop, however, it was always clear there was no alternative.”

Fr Fewings spoke of the contribution of the Poor Clares to the Diocese of Sandhurst and broader community.

“The presence of the religious nuns of the Order of Poor Clares Colettines has offered a great service to our Church, to our city. We don’t often refer to Saint Colette, one of her miracles approaching her canonisation, was bringing childless mothers to have children ... I mention that, because these sisters have prayed for people wanting children and there are perhaps latter-day miracles in which that has occurred.

But there are many other incidences in which their offer of prayer, their power of prayer, has brought lots of comfort to people; whether the prayers are answered their way or perhaps in God’s ways, it is nevertheless a testament to their vocation of contemplation , and prayer, and work, that we would like to give praise and thanks to, today.

While Laetare Sunday is a day of rejoicing for the coming of Easter, we rejoice we are back in the Churches, but we are sad that it is the last Sunday that we celebrate with the Sisters before their departure.

It is God’s gift of joy that we focus today to give praise and thanks for our sisters. “

Bishop Mackinlay spoke after the Mass,

“I have a sense of how long it is since the Sisters arrived in 1965, because the day that they arrived I turned 13 days old. So, in my thinking, the Sisters have spent a lifetime here and what a lifetime that has been. A life of prayer, silence, of peaceful work.

Bishop Mackinlay thanked the Sisters,

“Your contemplative presence amongst us has been a great witness to all of us, a great model of Christian discipleship. Your simplicity your reflection, your commitment to attentively listening for God’s Spirit, your commitment to holding the needs of our community, and all the world, before our God.

The people of Bendigo, the people throughout the Diocese, have greatly appreciated your hospitality, in sharing your liturgical life with us.

Many people in the community will be very sad to see the three Sisters, who they regard as close friends, leave this week. The time that people have spent visiting you regularly in the parlour has been cherished.

You have contributed to, and been part of, so many celebrations, in the prayer and greeting cards you have made, the cakes you have made, the vestments you have made for the Churches in the diocese and beyond; and of course for so many years, providing the altar bread that we use throughout the diocese and beyond.”

Sister Suzanne Fairbairn FMDM expressed gratitude to the Poor Clares on behalf of the Religious in the diocese."

“I am delighted to say a few words on two accounts, mainly because I’m a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and we were delighted in 1965, to welcome the Sisters to our Convent, for the short time it may have been, at Mount Alvernia, Lily Street. For this we are eternally grateful as we got to know you. I really feel the amount of time and prayer you have given up for us in the Diocese is outstanding. We have a lot, a lot to be very grateful for.

My second thank you comes from the Sandhurst Association of Religious. I was fortunate to see a picture taken in 1968 which may have resembled about 60 to 80 sisters in the diocese. I’m sad to say now, that on a rough count, there may be less than 30 and even less after tomorrow. We are so grateful and the Sisters of the Diocese and the Friars wish to show our recognition and thanks for all your years with us. God Bless you and may all be well. “

Bishop Shane presented each of  the Sisters with a memento book, prepared by Fr Andrew Fewings and diocesan archivist Dr Donna Bailey. The Sisters in turn, presented Bishop Shane with a gift, an icon of Saint Clare of Assisi. 

Mother Anthony reassured everyone that they would never stop praying for the people of Sandhurst.

     “We would like to remind you that, although we won’t be here in the diocese in a physical sense, we will always be with you. As we pray for you, we ask you to pray for us.

     Fr Andrew told us something; one day he saw a rainbow over the Monastery for which there was no obvious reason. We took it as a sign of God’s covenant.

     Wherever we go you are in our hearts and we ask you to please remember us.”