Sr Regina Leiba

I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. (Gal 2:20)

To love is the greatest of human experiences and sooner or later we realise that without it life is empty and meaningless.

Love is always worth the effort…a loving relationship is a celebration on its own. Let's use this special day as a reminder of the power of love and to continue celebrating throughout the year. (cf Leo Buscaglia, Bus 9 to Paradise ).

Sr Regina Leiba is now at Lourdes House as a director, doing a mission of love to our older sisters. For her it is a process of pain mingled with a special joy.

She is with our Sisters in the evening of their lives. Some watching and praying for healing, others waiting for the sun to set in order to rise again in the glory land of eternity. Only love has the power to make this particular life of service peaceful and celebratory. We thank you, Sister for this service!

Sr Regina, together with her other four companions were professed on August 27, 1955 . Her first mission was to teach in the new Convent School at Grenville, Grenada .

She was young and especially attractive to the young students who competed for her attention. She experienced hurricane Janet and this brought her and all the other sisters in Grenville closer to the students and people of the area.

Students were very disappointed when after two years Sr Regina was transferred. It is very significant for the Grenadian that four of this group of sisters worked in their island. Grenadians have cause to rejoice and they are well represented here today!

One can dare say that Grenada prepared Sr Regina to accomplish great things and to become a person of influence for the entire Province. She worked in St Joseph 's Convent, Port of Spain for six years in the first instance but also worked there again as Acting Principal for about a year.

She obtained an external degree with the University of London and a MEd degree with the University of Birmingham, England and was exposed to several other refresher courses in a variety of subjects including studies in English, Psychology and Education at Leicester , England .

Providence Girls could rightly claim Sr Regina as their own as it is there that she spent most of her teaching years – assistant teacher from 1958-64 and Principal from 1965 –1992 when she retired.

Like her predecessors, she continued to build and extend the school in every way – physically, educationally and spiritually. Soon after Sister's retirement she was sent to open a foundation in Portsmouth , Dominica where she served as Principal of St John's Primary School and got involved in social work, setting up CARE – an institution that looked after the elderly and the needy in the society.

Sr Regina was Community leader in Portsmouth , and Providence as well as Provincial Superior for 12 years (1980-1992) and made a valuable contribution to the development of the Province. She also participated in several General Chapters.

For her great service to the nation and the Church of Trinidad and Tobago , she was awarded the Public Service Medal of Merit Gold and the Papal Award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice , both in 1992.

Sister, we congratulate you for your many years of selfless service. May God reward you richly!

Sr Anne Marie Rodriguez

Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there is in silence…

Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others…

These words, I believe, truly describe Sr Anne Marie and this can be her advice to those of us who are rushing around at full speed and tiring ourselves unnecessarily.

It is clear to everyone who knows sister that this is the way she goes – unassuming, gentle, capable, quiet, humble, efficient, caring and attentive. She listens with respect and concern.

I wonder if Sister will remember leaving the following words with a small group of adoring girls in Grenville Convent, after a short teaching spell there:

“This day I place you in God's keeping, that all the years and all the hours to be, that he will guard you on the lowly highway and from sin's dark shadow keep you free.”

That was in 1955 and sister was on her way to the University of Glasgow, Scotland, after having won the island scholarship in Trinidad in 1952. (She had postponed her scholarship so that she could enter religious life in 1953).

These girls took sister's parting words to heart and looked for the guidance of God in their lowly wanderings. Two or three of them entered religious life and others chose getting married and building strong families. Thank you for your quiet influence on so many, dear Sister.

Sr Anne Marie has had a very rich and brilliant academic career ending up with an MA (Hons) in Latin. French, English and Spanish from Glasgow University, a Teaching Training College Certificate from the University of London and later a MEd in Educational Administration also from Glasgow .

Sr Anne Marie is principally an educationist and has taught and administered schools in Trinidad viz San Fernando , Port of Spain and St Joseph .

She has also been Community leader in some of our houses in Trinidad and has been exposed to several General Chapters as a member and also as translator and interpreter.

This service she also did for the group of sisters who visited Mana, Guyane in 2002.

Sister took early retirement from teaching and was appointed Novice Mistress from 1985 – 1992, when she succeeded Sr Regina Leiba as Provincial Superior and served in that role for nine years.

Although she was not in office to see our Retirement Home, Lourdes House, built and in operation, it was she and her council who initiated the idea.

After demitting the office of Provincial, Sr Anne Marie had the unique distinction of being asked to serve the Church in Trinidad as the first Lady Chancellor, a duty she performs with devotion and competence.

Congratulations and blessings to you dear Sr Anne Marie. May God give you that strength to continue serving in the calm and efficient way in which you do.

Ad Multos Annos!

Sr Jerome Boland

I can do all things in him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13)

A woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A woman of strength gives the best of herself.

Whereas a strong woman feels strong enough for the journey,

The woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will be strengthened.

These words summarised from, Neva Coyle's book, A Woman of Strength, truly describe Sr Jerome, who is a very capable and competent lady in many fields, yet does not claim any strength of her own but lives the exhortation, “ I can do all things in him who strengthens me. ” Only in the arms of God, with Jesus, Mary and Joseph as companions is Sr Jerome brave and fearless.

Sr Jerome has had a long and interesting history in religious life. This began with her four companions after her profession in 1955.

She has worked as principal of the primary schools in Mucurapo and Scarborough on different occasions, and has remained a legend among the students and teachers with whom she has worked.

She retired from Government Service in 1986 and one can say this retirement was just a manner of freeing Sr Jerome for greater involvement both in education and in social work.

She ran a Montessori School in Arima and has just retired from Rosa Mystica, a pre-school in Diego Martin, owned by the Carmelites. It was always very delightful to hear Sr Jerome speak of her dear little ones, the things they did and said.

Sister has also been to the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) to give assistance in the coordinating of suitable programmes and teaching methods for kindergarten schools.

When she lived in San Fernando earlier, she was responsible for founding a Senior Citizens Centre, which is still in operation. She served as Community leader both in Maraval and in Port of Spain and strove always to have a united and integrated Community.

She did parish ministry in Cumana and was available for whatever she was asked to do and wherever she was sent. Sr Jerome, an excellent administrator, also served on the Provincial Council.

Among several certificates, she holds a Diploma in Education Administration and a Masters Degree in Education (majoring in counselling) from State University of New York.

Sr Jerome is again assigned to San Fernando , where she is directing household matters, working with the Senior Citizens and the Eucharistic Centre Committees, respectively.

A woman of strength and grace, friendly, humorous and open, Sr Jerome continues to witness to the goodness of the Lord and to work for the coming of his kingdom.

Congratulations and blessings to you dear Sr Jerome! May you go from strength to strength and may you feel the hand of God directing your course!

Ad Multos Annos!

Sr Genevieve Baptiste

Wake up from your sleep and Christ will shine on you.

So be very careful about what sort of lives you lead, like intelligent and not like senseless people. This may be a wicked age but our lives could redeem it. And do not be thoughtless but recognise what is the will of the Lord. (Eph 5:14b-16)

The youth of Grenada will surely be able to identify with the above Scripture passage because this, it seems clear to me, was Sr Genevieve's theme for her youth ministry.

A theme she lived herself and worked unceasingly to get the young people to whom she ministered to take on the responsibility to redeem the world by their lives, to be in a constant conversion, working for the things of the Lord.

She wanted them to shine for Jesus and they did sing very heartily and frequently the song Shine Jesus Shine . They were also exhorted to be thoughtful and to recognise and live the will of the Lord in their daily lives.

It is difficult to say in this brief moment the tremendous work Sr Genevieve did for the youth in Grenada – an apostolate she was commissioned to after her retirement as principal of the Grenville Convent School .

She organised retreats of all kinds, especially COR retreats, Youth 2000 weekends, conventions, rallies etc. The list is long. In Grenada she also served on several religious commissions.

Suffice it to say, she did great work and was greatly loved and appreciated by the people, especially the youth to whom she ministered and loved dearly.

Sr Genevieve entered our novitiate on February 2, 1953 and made profession on August 27, 1955 . After a short stay in Trinidad , she left for the shores of distant Africa in January 1956. Already a trained teacher, she worked as principal of several schools in Sierra Leone and the Gambia .

This was a very challenging mission but Sr Genevieve is especially versatile and can put her hands to almost anything - needlework, typing, cooking, singing, art and craft, (beautiful were the religious banners which she produced).

She was able to do great work among the African children and people. Gifted, determined and committed, it is clear that her service will be blessed and successful.

Sr Genevieve returned to her homeland in March 1970 and worked as a teacher in Sacred Heart School and then was sent to further her studies.

She did her BA degree at UWI Jamaica and on her completion in 1973 she was sent to be principal of Grenville Convent School . She also became leader of that community.

There she continued her mission until her retirement in 1985, after which she went to North America, studied at the Loyola University, Chicago and obtained her Masters degree in Pastoral Studies.

On her return in 1986, she was appointed Youth Coordinator for the island of Grenada . Her work in that ministry has already been highlighted above.

Sister is now assigned to the Community of San Fernando and on to her third career. Perhaps she can be termed forever young! She is now parish administrator of New Grant – a parish with several mission stations. How does she do it?

Only God knows, but whatever she undertakes to do, one can expect dedication and excellence. Congratulations dear sister for your long, dedicated and loving service as a Sister of Cluny to God and his people. May God bless you abundantly dear sister.

Ad Multos Annos!

Sr Gertrude Tang Kai

I am tempted to sing, what a wonder you are dear Sr Gertrude! For she is indeed a wonder – unique, indefatigable, loyal, enterprising with a strong sense of humour even at her own faux pas.

After several trials to get to a certain family in the United States she decided to call at 2.00 a.m. A tired sleepy voice answered, “Hello!” This was Sr Gertrude's reply “Ah hah! I knew, I would have finally got you!”

I believe the story to be true and it does exemplify sister. She begins where most people would have stopped. Her courage her stick-to-itiveness is beyond compare! We praise God for her!

Sr Elizabeth Browne Russell, Sr Gertrude's last Provincial Superior had this to say of her: “After ten years of service in the Philippines and one year in China, Sr Gertrude Tang Kai is now about to leave our province in order to return to the West Indies, her place of origin.

I thank Gertrude on behalf of all of us, for her graced, dynamic and caring presence with us during the last 11 years ... Gertrude had the ability to dare to take risks, the vision to begin new things and to pave the way for others, the compassion for the poor which saw her on journeys often to beg on their behalf…She was also much loved and appreciated by staff and students alike. We will miss her greatly.”

Time and space are against us to do justice to the magnificent person that Sr Gertrude is so we will just give a very brief synopsis of Sr Gertrude's mission and apostolates.

On February 2, 1953 a somewhat demur young woman entered the novitiate in Arouca. She was professed on August 27, 1955 and took up her first teaching position at Providence Girls' School. From there her teaching journey began.

She taught in Grenville , Grenada on two occasions in 1959 when she was still young and left in 1967 and again in 1985 after spending three years as Novice Mistress in Arouca.

She retired officially from teaching in 1993 only to begin perhaps a much more arduous challenge in raising funds to build schools and to coordinate and manage several schools in Aquilar , Philippines .

Sr Gertrude was surely prepared for her task in the Philippines having held teaching and administrative positions for many years not only in Grenville and St George's , Grenada but also in Kingstown , St Vincent .

Her excellent academic and spirituality training from renowned universities and institutions both in Europe and in the Americas prepared Sr Gertrude for the task ahead. Gifted with a good singing voice and a ready and keen mind she was available for practically any task.

She was choir mistress, librarian, games mistress, directress of the Legion of Mary and was involved in a number of Church activities including being Directress of Vocations in Grenada .

She was also great for raising funds for building the extension of school facilities. There stands a beautiful wing to the former Convent School building in Grenville put up by Sister's effort and dedication.

Sr Gertrude was always desirous of teaching in her father's homeland and so she joined the Maryknoll Fathers' volunteer scheme to teach English in the middle school in Zhanjiang , South China .

There she was a great success and an appeal was made for her to continue there for another year. She is back so you can conclude what happened. Her work, however, did not stop at just teaching in South China .

She discovered the place where our Cluny Sisters, more than a hundred years ago had set up a foundation in Guangzhou to look after a crèche for abandoned children in an orphanage close by. Describing the experience, Sr Gertrude writes:

“It is an awesome feeling to go back in time and to walk on ground sacred to the memory of our forebears in the congregation who came to China more than a hundred years ago.”

Great discovery, Sr Gertrude, thank you for sharing so generously your discovery and experience. We welcome you back to your homeland, Trinidad and Tobago and to our second home, Grenada where you are again assigned.

Happy settling down and many blessings for the challenge of post-Ivan Grenada ! May God bless you!

Ad Multos Annos!