Ruby Jubilee 2009

Group with Fr.Archibald Gonsalves OCD,

the Resource person

Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of their Novice Mistress , Sr.Marie Grace.

The group being welcomed with the traditonal welcome
It was 24 August 2009! 22 active and energetic Ruby Jubilarians, all excited to meet their batchmates, arrived at Christ King Convent Tambaram. Here they had the first of the many surprises – a Jubilee Mass followed by a sumptuous dinner, recreation and gift-receiving!

Next morning, 23 nuns were at the airport, pushing trollies, opening passports - a real sight indeed! At 7.15 a.m. they were received at the Bandaranayake Airport by Sisters Carmella, Menna and Miriam Clare, and six more Rubies, including Sister Fabiola from Kenya, with their broadest smiles, a fond embrace and a red rose each! An air-conditioned coach, with Sister Sunitha at the mike, gave them a glimpse of Sri Lanka as they wended their way to Borella. At the Provincial House, the rubies were welcomed with a lotus each and the Kandian dance by the nursery children.

A visit to the Good News Ashram, where Father Darryl anointed each Jubilarian with the Holy Spirit during the Eucharistic celebration, concelebrated with Father Archibald Gonsalves OCD, was an experience never to be forgotten!

The weeklong programme at ‘Divyadarshana’ renewed them in spirit and strengthened them for the rest of their journey. A rare privilege - the presence of the Novice Mistress and Golden Jubilarian, Sister Marie Grace! Father Archie Gonsalves OCD, strengthened their Carmelite roots and prepared them to grow old gracefully.

Visits to 17 A.C. convents including Trinco the first A.C. home in Sri Lanka, meeting the sisters, experiencing their warm hospitality, learning their rich cultural heritage, sharing their apostolic experiences, visiting churches, enjoying the scenic beauty of the land, the sea bath, the gardens, parks and elephants, was the rich banquet spread before the Jubilarians! Deep gratitude is expressed to Sister Vincent, who had thought of the programme, to Sister Agatha Mary who has continued it, and to Sister Carmella and all the Sisters of Sri Lanka, to Sister Deera and her community at Tambaram!

With Port Blair community, staff,students , ex-students and ACAs

Sight seeing in Port Blair and a few other islands

A spiriutal feast - prayer, reflections, group discussions, Renewal of vows

Welcome by the Port Blair community and school

Sapphire Jubilee group : 45 years after the First Profession

The General chapter 2008 approved of the postulata which said that the batches before 1966 who had missed the Ruby Jubilee get together, be permitted to organize a Renewal and get together programme anywhere in India. Accordingly the batch of 1964 planned a get together in Port Blair. Many of us had not met one another after the first Profession. So all were excited and enthusiastic about this Renewal and coming together of the batch. Sister Susheela, the Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province, gladly permitted us to stay in Carmel convent,Port Blair.

On September20, twenty six of us arrived in Port Blair. Our sisters in Port Blair went out of their way to prepare accommodation for us. They, in consultation with sister Lancia got ready a programme for sight seeing. Soa fter three days of an intensive renewal programme, we had some days for sight seeing. We had a memorable time on the island. We experienced many miracles and God's protection during this trip. Here you can see a few of the photographs of our programme.

Ruby Jubilee Celebrations at Carmel, Kuwait.

Forty glorious years have sped by since Carmel Convent and School took root in Kuwait's soil.

To commemorate the Ruby Jubilee Year, Carmel organized an array of activities starting with the glamourous Annual Day Celebrations of Class IV titled - A Festival of Dance and Music

followed by Std. V and VI with a 'Rainbow of Hope"

These were followed by intra-school competitions like the essay- writing, instrumental music, pantomime, colouring, hat making etc.

The school organised Community service programmes, taking up cleanliness drives in the vicinity around the school, arranging hospital visits and lectures and held a programme to entertain children with special needs.

Interspersing these events were a kaleidoscope of inter school competitions - the Essay writing, Folk Dance and the Battle of the Bands which drew the enthusiastic participation from the Indian schools in Kuwait.

The Carmel Alumni Association was launched with its vision 'Excel and Serve', providing an opportunity for ex-students to come together within the protals of their Alma Mater to renew relationships and maintain fellowship among global Carmelites, while being part of its endeavour to serve the community at large.

And to crown it all was the colourful extravaganza "Carmel Ruby Hues".

On this day the Ruby Jubilee magazine "Carmel Celezine" - a vivid reflection of life at Carmel School during the last forty years, was released.

Sr. Maria Lytta with the Sponsor and the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait.

The sisters who were and are in Kuwait from 1969-2009.

The present Community of Seven.