60th JUBILEE

60th JUBILEE in GULU

19 March 1956 was the date on which Patricia Murphy became Sister Michael Patrick.  Now, sixty years later, she celebrated the 60th anniversary of becoming a Sister of St. Joseph!  Both Jo Ann and Fran celebrated their 54th.

Friday, 18 March 2016, was to be the day of celebration here in Gulu.  Plans had been made weeks ahead of time….  First of all, the trio was to go out to brunch at San Kofa, a place that served dishes more like home.  After that would be the noontime liturgy at the Chapel of the University of the Sacred Heart where we worshiped on a nearly daily basis.  The third part of the plan was to have real, homemade ice-cream at the Samaritan Center.

 However, what was NOT in the plan was mostly what actually occurred.

Presiders: Fr. Jino, Bishop Sabino, Fr. Komakech

All three of us were privileged to renew our vows in the Chapel as planned.  Since there was a board meeting that weekend, the board members were all present for this occasion.  Even more special for us, though, was the fact that Bishop Sabino was the main presider!  He had become special to us from our earliest days here in Gulu.  If you remember an old blog entry,  you may recall that he is the one who "saved us" from a rat in that old house....  We had captured it (live) under our propane tank and had no idea what to do from there! He is also the person who gave us a first-class tour of the game park at Murchison Falls since he sort of grew up there when his father worked at the park.

Vow renewal & "Sancte Joseph"

Vow renewal & "Sancte Joseph"

Vow renewal and "Sancte Joseph"

As has been traditional for us as Sisters of St. Joseph, we renewed our vows after the homily, and then sang what seems to have been a pretty fair rendering of "Sancte Joseph," in at least two-part harmony!  Bishop Sabino then came forward to congratulate each of us.

Congratulations from Bishop Sabino

Congratulations from Bishop Sabino

Because of the infection in Jo Ann's foot, our other plans were put on hold.  (Three days later we put her on a plane bound for St. Louis!)

 

First gathering for group picture

Informal Group

Informal Chatting

Gathering of Board, Staff, and Guests

Fran and Pat did manage to get to the San Kofa Restaurant for a brunch a week later. Photos show the place.... It now has a new name: Elephante!

Waiting and waiting and ...

Fran with her Belgian Waffle!

Pat's plate finally arrived

A week later Patty arrived.  We are now three again....  And so the three of us attempted to get ice-cream to complete the Jubilee celebration.  Anyone who knows Pat, knows there is only one flavor of anything sweet: chocolate!  "The stars are against us" it seems....  Wouldn't you know: they had no chocolate ice-cream that day!  The bottom line is that we will simply have to return until all the celebrating has been completed!