• HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • History
    • Dominican Spirituality
    • Life and Mission
    • Associates
      • Ireland
      • South Africa
      • Associates Stories
        • Mary Mc Crae
        • Niamh Smith
        • Janice Mc Garry
    • Dominican Saints
      • Saint Dominic
      • Thomas Aquinas
      • Saint Catherine
      • Fra Angelico
      • St. Agnes of Montepulciano
      • St. John Macias
      • A poem for Jubilee Year
    • Books
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Ecology
      • An Tairseach- Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre
      • 2020 – Programme of events
    • Justice
    • Education
      • Dominican Ethos in Schools
      • Secondary Schools ROI
      • Secondary Schools NI
      • Primary Schools
      • Special Schools
      • Third Level
      • Lumen Dominican Centre Sion Hill
        • Lumen Dominican Centre
    • Sacred Preaching Space
    • Ecumenism
    • Pastoral Care
    • Other Ministries
  • WHERE WE ARE
    • Ireland
    • North America – Louisiana
    • Latin America
    • South Africa
    • Portugal
      • Archives
  • VOCATIONS
    • Becoming a Dominican Sister
    • Vocation Stories
      • Sr Margaret MacCurtain OP
      • Sr Bridget O’Driscoll OP
      • Sr Elizabeth Clifford OP
      • Sr Francis Cosgrove OP
      • Sr. Aedris Coates OP
      • Sr. Margaret Kelly OP
      • Sr. Joan O’Donovan OP
      • Sr Sabine Schratz OP
      • Sr. Liz Smyth OP
      • Sr. Eileen O’Connell
      • Sr. Edel Murphy OP
      • Sr. Kathleen Fitzsimons OP
      • Sr. Paul Cloete OP
      • Sr Athanasius Melican OP
      • Sr. Rose McLarnon OP
      • Sr. Eileen McCarthy OP
    • Vocations
  • SAFEGUARDING
    • Child Safeguarding Policy
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Contact Details
  • TV
    • NEWS
      • ChurchTV
      • Photo Gallery
  • CONTACT
    • GDPR
    • Data Retention and Erasure Policy
    • Privacy Notice
    • Web Privacy Statement
    • User Agreement
    • Cookie Policy
facebook
twitter

Recent

09
SEP
2013

Region of South Africa 150 Years Welcome

Posted By : Tom Morton
Comments : Off

WELCOME:

On 7 September 1863 the mail vessel “Saxon” sailed slowly into Table Bay – the realization of Bishop Patrick Raymund Griffith’s dream. History was in the making as the first six Irish Dominican Sisters stepped ashore in South Africa. They had responded to an appeal of Bishop Grimley, the second Vicar Apostolic of the Colony, for help in the field of education of the youth. 2013 is the 150th anniversary of that arrival.

 

The question arises: Why celebrate Jubilee?

I think the times demand that we celebrate jubilee. Education in the school situation has been part of the mission of the Cabra Dominican Sisters in South Africa for 150 years.  Over these years it has offered an opportunity for education of excellence to learners from Catholic and other faith families wanting a Gospel value based education. Education for deaf children has been part of the mission from the time of the Sisters’ arrival in South Africa as one of the original 6 Sisters brought with her the valuable experience of teaching deaf children.

 

Although the Sisters are not teaching in the schools now, the schools have been placed in the very capable hands of committed lay people who are enthusiastic to continue education in the Dominican tradition. Endings turn into new beginnings. New beginnings are times of new possibilities.  So the time itself is a significant frontier directing us to Jubilee celebration.

 

Doing Justice is integral to who we as Dominicans are and do.

Dominic dreamed of a world freed from war and violence, winnowed of greed and falsehood,

mirroring truth and goodness in every sphere of life.

wrote Brenda Walshe, Dominican Sister, in Wisconsin.

In order to make this dream possible Dominic gathered around him companions who had the same passion as he had – to proclaim the gospel of truth- and among these companions were women.

This dream which Dominic had more than 800 years ago is still true for the world today and more particularly in South Africa. The Sisters took part in the demonstrations and protests against the sin of apartheid, witnessing to social and eco- justice and continue to participate in a South Africa struggling to respond to the challenges of providing a more just society. Proclaiming jubilee is an act of faith, an act of hope, and an act of conviction that grace, goodness and holiness exist even though none of them has triumphed fully – despite brokenness there is hope.

We celebrate jubilee as an act of gratitude. Our canticle is incomplete if it stops at Jubilate – rejoice.  It must go on to Jubilate Deo.  Give thanks glory and praise to the Giver. As the psalmist proclaims:

I give thanks to you, Yahweh, for you are good, your love is everlasting.

As we celebrate our 150th anniversary in South Africa the Spirit is asking us to continue

 

To respond to the challenges by remaining humble, seeking the truth with compassion, and desiring that God’s dream and Dominic’s may come true –

 

 

The earth and our human societies must be home for all peoples and all people.

 

We cannot be proud of everything in the past. Yet we can say to all who have lived the Dominican charism: Well done; may the future do as well!

 

I would like to welcome to our celebration of praise and thanks to God for the many blessings we have received :

Archbishop Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town and President of the SA Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Henry

Priests, Religious, Principals and teachers, Board members, and all those associated with us over shorter or longer periods of time.

In short ,members of our Dominican Family, you are all welcome to this Solemn Evening Prayer

– Let us thank God in Songs of praise.

Sr Francis Krige O.P

About the Author

Social Share

Sr Columbia OP - Reflection for a Nun's Life Ministry

April 01, 2021

Advent Calendar' - a poem by Dr Rowan Williams narrated by Sr Eileen O Connell OP

December 14, 2020

In Memory Of Our Deceased Sisters November 19-November 2020

November 29, 2020
  • Posts
  • Categories
  • Tags
  • Easter Sunday – He is Risen… He is not here!
  • Holy Saturday ( 3 April 2021)
  • Good Friday -The Cross of Christ has Become our Tree of Life.
  • “Maundy Thursday, All the World is Still”, Malcolm Guite, 2020
  • Sr Columbia OP – Reflection for a Nun’s Life Ministry
  • Le Chéile Day 26 March 2021 – Unlocking
  • Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig 17th March 2021 
  • National Catholic Reporter: News — Iraqi sisters hope pope’s visit shows the world their country’s suffering
  • World Day of Prayer (A Women LED, GLOBAL, ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT) Press Release
  • World Day Of Prayer 5th March 2021
  • An Tairseach (29)
  • Dominican Associates (3)
  • Dominican News (255)
  • Education (68)
  • Events (85)
  • Good News (76)
  • Highlights (26)
  • Home Page Slider (18)
  • Ireland (80)
  • Justice (67)
  • Latin America (29)
  • Louisiana (17)
  • News (393)
  • Our Regions (8)
  • Poems (5)
  • Portugal (14)
  • Prayers (16)
  • Proclaiming (6)
  • Professions (4)
  • Reflections (11)
  • Rest Of The World (5)
  • Sacred Space (4)
  • South Africa (23)
  • Stories (21)
  • Uncategorized (276)
  • Vatican II- Remembering (7)
  • Vocations (14)
  • Women Preachers (12)
Dominican Women South Africa Reflection Vatican II Mission and Ministry God An Tairseach Baptism Art Chaplain Hello Logo Pauline Hospital Portugal Louisiana Ireland Mindfulness in Education Froebel College of Education The Woman at the Well Lay participation in Parish Life Compassion illness RIP Rest In Peace Mary Magdalen Spring

Twitter

  • RT @BA_McShane: Join me in conversation with Alan Hayes of @ArlenHouse on Saturday to pay tribute to the late, great Dr Margaret MacCurtain… 123 days ago
  • RT @rogerchilds2u: @sinead_mccoole @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnslibrary @ArlenHouse Thank you for such an elegant, touching and… 182 days ago
  • RT @sinead_mccoole: Dr Margaret MacCurtain's life spanned 9 decades, 1000s of lives were enriched @UCC @DominicanSrsCab @UCDHistory @burnsl… 182 days ago

Search Our Site

Recent Posts

  • Easter Sunday – He is Risen… He is not here!
  • Holy Saturday ( 3 April 2021)
  • Good Friday -The Cross of Christ has Become our Tree of Life.
  • “Maundy Thursday, All the World is Still”, Malcolm Guite, 2020
  • Sr Columbia OP – Reflection for a Nun’s Life Ministry

Dominican Links

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Dominican Contemplative Nuns at the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
  • Order of Preachers
  • Dominican Friars
  • AMRI
  • Lay Dominicans Ireland

Our Ministries

  • Dominican Ecology Centre
  • Contemplative Outreach
  • Dominican Sisters International
  • Irish Archives Resource

Contact Us

  1. Name *
    * Please enter your name
  2. Email *
    * Please enter a valid email address
  3. Message *
    * Please enter message
Copyright © 2020 Dominican Sisters Cabra. All Rights Reserved. Please click GDPR Information.
Web DesignbyOrbit Technologies