Diocesan Newsletter

Farewell to Srs Carmel and Colleen

In last month’s newsletter, Bishop Michael expressed his thanks to Sr Carmel and Colleen for the years of service they have offered to the people of Blackwater and the surrounding areas.  This month, we offer the speeches from the farewell last month that spoke so eloquently of how well the sisters were known and loved in the district.

Chris Boag

Chris Boag, a parishioner of Blackwater,  spoke of the deep friendship he, and so many others received from Carmel and Colleen:

Firstly, I would like to say welcome and thank you to all our dignitaries, friends and former parishioners who have come tonight to join us in farewelling our 2 sisters, Sr Carmel and Sr Colleen. It is a hard night for our parish community and the community in general. I am going to give a general history of the life and times of these two people as I have witnessed.

Sr Carmel came to our parish first. We were praying we would have a presence in our parish, and we had accommodation available. Sr Carmel was well known throughout the Bardon area and was there in the very early stages of the charismatic renewal in Brisbane. In fact, she has shared her escapades of sneaking out for meetings and many other stories. She was also well known for her ministry in other areas of Brisbane. She has many stories of wonders and miracles she herself had prayed for and witnessed. She was a spiritual presence for the diocesan Renewal for many years here, always giving a wonderful input of prayer and spirituality. Even up to the last 8 months or so she would come to our meetings here in our church and had many words of wisdom.

She arrived in our parish with an abundance of energy, wisdom and spirituality. She has been instrumental in educating many adults in their faith and her wonderful knowledge of our Catholic faith and history, making sure people knew the name of the vestments, the relics in the altar and explanation of different parts of the Mass. She has been a wonderful teacher of the things that are no longer taught.

She is also a stickler for correct and proper English and the use of our language: she may be termed as a ‘grammar policewoman’.

She also saw a need for ongoing music in our services and although she had had a long break from any instrument, she proceeded to practice on the organ and it soon came back to her. She has been joined by many musicians in the period she has been here, encouraging all who came forward to join her. She was a stickler for the hymn being played and sung the correct way according to the music (just like the grammar).

She helped people in the community with adult education and tutored some younger ones who may have been having learning difficulties. Her grasp of our English language and liturgical language has been invaluable to our community. She never held back with the correction of a noisy church; to remind people we are in God’s house; it was indeed a reverence she has always held dear.

She also prayed with many people at the hospital or listened to people who were suffering from any form of upset or turmoil. She has also given many words of wisdom to people. Some listened, some chose not to. She would truly listen and try to help in practical or spiritual ways.

She has shared all her gifts, talents, wisdom and spirituality with many of our people here and in the other areas of our parish, schools, and meetings.

Sr Colleen came as a religious and with a stipend, (for those who don’t understand what this is, it means money!!) when our parish was struggling to keep up parish and community work. She and Sr Carmel clicked and slowly worked out their strengths and each concentrated on what talents they could work on together.  Since Sr Colleen arrived many things have grown and flourished. She took on a lot of the administration, maintenance, community work, to name just a few. She always consulted before acting, no matter what the problem.

Sacramental programs of all kinds were instrumental to the growth of adult education from Sr Carmel and children’s education for Sr Colleen. They both worked in collaboration with the different groups in our parish to establish the parish we have today. Sr Colleen also had a keen eye on who and where to approach everyone for their gifts and talents. She has fostered and trained many in our parish in many ministries.  Even when people thought they couldn’t do something, she slowly worked on the education and ability of the individual. I recently had my wonderful friend Ann visit from South Africa.  She has come here for many years now and loves our little church. On a couple occasions, Sr Colleen asked her to read the Prayers of the Faithful. She told me later that one of the churches she attends has a congregation of 4000 people and she would never have been able to participate in the service. She was so honored and loved to be able to contribute to our service.

Sr Colleen has also been instrumental in upgrading many of the gardens and areas of planting, being a keen gardener, and has also worked hard to make the yards and gardens neat and tidy. Our old “hut” was demolished and this new lovely hall we are celebrating in today has been established. The shed blew away and we got a new replacement. The unit over the way was built for visiting priests and visitors doing program’s here in our church. Many repairs needed over a long period have been instigated by her and committee members.

Sr Colleen also was on committees in our community for the growth of our town. They have both been mentioned in our local Australia Day awards. They have both travelled to Bluff and Dingo to teach religious education and attended the Marist College activities. They have both attended all diocesan meetings to represent us all over our diocese. We have always been informed of all functions held throughout our area. Our youth have been to gatherings in Brisbane. Sr Colleen knows special events of the youth, families, disasters, celebrations and sicknesses and makes them known to us in her announcements. She has been the eyes and ears of our parish for a long time. Her sense of humor is well known amongst us, especially when directed at Sr Carmel.

Recently Sr Carmel had an infection and was taken to hospital. Sr Colleen rang a few of us and to cut a long story short Sr Colleen, Sr Carmel and I ended up in Emerald hospital. After a lot of testing and believe you me, I couldn’t have done some of the tests Sr Carmel passed, they decided she should stay in hospital overnight. Next day Sr Colleen had a funeral in Bluff so I told her I would go to Emerald and be with Sr Carmel until she could come. We had a wonderful 5 hours with many stories told. Sr Carmel said to me ‘You know Chris, I don’t know where I would be without Colleen.” They have always been there for each other. At the supermarket one day, I saw Sr Colleen standing in front of the yoghurt reading all the labels, I asked her what she was doing, and she was trying to get the best one for Sr Carmel and her health.

These two women have rarely left our parish and never for a long period of time. They have been totally committed, faithful, faith filled, listening, guiding, encouraging, nurturing, and have been the backbone of our area in conjunction with Bluff, Dingo, Duaringa and Sr Cecilia in Worrabinda and even Emerald.

They are not perfect and have probably occasionally made mistakes, or upset people, however the good that they have done for our parish and broader communities has far outweighed these foibles.

Many people may have many more stories and tales of their time here and I am sure you are sharing them with others.  I would like to say a truly sincere thank you to you both for your unselfish service and dedication on behalf of the former and present members of our parish and the broader community. We are losing truly wonderful friends.

Before I finish, I would sincerely like to thank all who have contributed to the function tonight. Some have given a lot of time and without naming and embarrassing anyone you know who you are, thank you.

I would also like to say thank you to our Bishop Michael for the appointment of Fr Kingsley. This is our first parish priest for probably 30 years or so.

Maria Hoare of Springsure

Maria spoke of their time on the Central Highlands Regional  Pastoral Council:

On behalf of the Central Highlands Regional Pastoral Council, I would like to thank Srs Colleen and Carmel for their wonderful support over many years.  Their knowledge, wisdom, sharing of resources and care for all not just in recent years within the Regional Pastoral Council but in the CH Deanery meetings before that has been exceptional and we have greatly valued and appreciated it.  They have been a true gift to all of us, sharing best practices and lighting the way for us, especially as we prepare liturgies and lead our communities without a resident priest.  We have also been sustained by their liturgical and theological input within our individual faith communities.  May God continue to bless them as they have blessed and nurtured us.

And finally Fr Truc spoke as Parish Priest of Emerald.

Greetings…. For those who don’t know me, I’m Truc Phan, SVD. I’m the PP of St Patrick’s – Emerald. I have been working with Srs Carmel and Colleen for over 4 years. On behalf of the community, especialy those who could not be here tonight such as Frs Yon and Francois, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Srs Carmel and Colleen for their marvelous works and services they have done for this parish and surrounding communities. They have been much appreciated as we all have just heard from representatives of different communities. Even though they are leaving us, their good works and legends are still in the hearts of  so many people. For sure, they will be highly missed!

Dear Sr Carmel, thank you for correcting my English. If you, my dear friends, are still unable to understand me, please “blame her!”

Once again, Srs Carmel and Colleen, thank you and be assured that you are always in our prayers.

The best wishes of our diocese go with Sr Carmel and Sr Colleen and we pray God’s richest blessings to them and the people to whom they now are sent.