On Saturday, September 13, the handsome chapel of the Holy Name Convent in Port of Spain was in one if its days of glory. The occasion was the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Religious Profession of Sister Susan Gopaul OP.

The sanctuary of the chapel was adorned with exquisite floral arrangements, the work of her cousin Gail Cabral.

Chief celebrant of the 10.00 a.m. Mass of thanksgiving was Most Rev Archbishop Robert Rivas Archbishop of Castries, Saint Lucia and the Apostolic Administrator of St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Barbados; concelebrants were Bishop Malcolm Galt, formerly Bishop of Bridgetown, now retired and living in Bequia, also eight priests, one of them Dominican Ireneus Vincent had even come from Grenada.

The chapel was filled with religious sisters, family members and friends of Sr Susan, some of them having travelled from Barbados and even New York to give her the testimony of their loyal affection.

A very lively choir accompanied by eager musicians rendered a most appreciated singing throughout the celebration.

The Marian Hall, also beautifully decorated, after the Mass received all the guests for lunch and entertainment that gave a pleasant ending to the special day.

Sr Susan Gopaul, an Arimian by birth, entered the Novitiate of the Dominican Sisters on September 4, 1981 to respond to God’s call. On June 25, 1989, after eight years of formation, Sister committed herself to Him for her entire life by making her Perpetual Profession.

A teacher at Holy Name Preparatory School before she entered the Convent, Sr Susan continued to teach little ones in the Sisters’ School after her first Religious Profession on July 16, 1983.

Sr Susan at the celebration in the Holy Name Chapel

In 2004, Sr Susan was sent to Barbados to be the Principal of the St Patrick RC School and since then has done a remarkable work in improving it.

In his homily, Archbishop Rivas exhorted Sr Susan to: BE A WOMAN OF PRAYER as both in contemplative and active religious life it has always been men and women of prayer who truly interpret and put into practice the will of God and who do great works.
BE A WOMAN OFF RECONCILIATTION.

Here he pointed out the example of St Catherine Siena who was a burning flame of love in the Church and whose life was broken and poured out for others in sacrifice. She was God’s chosen instrument to bring peace and reconciliation in her time.

BE A PROPHETIC WITNESS. Prophets feel in their hearts a burning desire for the holiness of God and, having heard his word in the dialogue of prayer they proclaim that word with their lives, on their lips and in their actions even at the risk of their lives.

BE A WOMAN OF HOLY SCRIPTURE and have a great love for the Holy Scripture, which is the word of God. Follow the example of St Dominic who spent much time with the word, meditating and contemplating it in keeping with the Dominican motto “To contemplate and give to others the fruits of our contemplation.” Set up schools of prayer, of spirituality and the prayerful reading of Holy Scripture.

LOVE THE WORK YOU DO IN EDUCATION because it is Christ’s work, it is also the work of the Church. The Church has always recognised that education is an essential dimension of her mission.

Archbishop Rivas then outlined the values of the religious life when he said: “It is very necessary to ensure that consecrated life be more highly esteemed and promoted by bishops, priests and Christian communities and that, conscious of the joy and responsibility of their vocation, consecrated religious be fully integrated into the various parts of the Church where they live, fostering communion and mutual cooperation.”

He then continued, “Today, the witness of a life consecrated completely to God is an eloquent proclamation of the fact that God suffices to give fulfilment to the life of each person. This consecration to the Lord must become generous service in the spreading of God’s kingdom.”

Archbishop Rivas concluded by commissioning Sr Susan when he said to her: Go forward and continue to serve the Lord and remain in his love.”
To God be the glory!