Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Jubilees
SR GORETTI EVANS - Golden
SRS FLORIANE MELINZ and BENEDICT COOKE - Diamond
19th February 2012
It was a warm Sunday afternoon when families and friends from near and far gathered at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene, to celebrate jubilees of gold and diamond.
Sr Goretti was born and grew up in Melbourne. While working at Mena House Hospital, East Melbourne, she came to know our sisters and was inspired to join the community. Goretti made her First Profession at Mary’s Mount in 1962. She trained as a nurse at Sacred Heart Hospital, Moreland, thus her openness to and care of others took wings and became life-long. Goretti became Superior and Matron at Holy Cross Hospital, Geelong, and later, at Sacred Heart Hospital, was Director of Nursing.
She was instrumental in assisting the Sisters of St Joseph initiate the School Nursing Program at Mount St Joseph’s College, Altona and for many years was the Nurse/Manager of the Christian Brothers’ Aged care Facility, Parkville. Now she is the Brothers’ Aged Care Co-Ordinator. Goretti continues to be a very valuable resource person in the field of nursing for our own sisters and for many others as well.
Sr Floriane was born in Croatia. From the age of nine she wanted to be a missionary and has lived in that spirit ever since. As a young woman she entered the MSC Sisters in Hiltrup, Germany, and at about the same time her family migrated to Australia.
After her First Profession Floriane left Germany with eleven other sisters, braving the elements on the “Skaubryn” bound for Papua New Guinea where our main mission, Vunapope, was still in ruins after World War II.
Floriane worked on a leper station and later on the island of Tanga. Her practicality serves her well, she can set her hand to anything. But above all, she is a person of joy and great trust in God.
In 2000 she transferred to the Australian Province. Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bayswater, became beneficiaries of her kindness and presence. Now she resides at our Hospitality House in Deepdene and continues to be available and alert to the needs of others.
Sr Benedict was born and grew up in Melbourne. Following her First Profession at Mary’s Mount, Balwyn, in 1952, she studied at Emily McPherson College of Domestic Science. She used these skills with kindness, care and hospitality at Mary’s Mount, in our hospitals – Holy Cross, Geelong, and Sacred Heart, Moreland, and with residents at St Joseph’s Tower, Kew, always with a welcome to the visitor.
Later, she worked in Pastoral Care at Sacred Heart Hospital and at St Joseph’s Tower before moving to St Albans East in 1992 where she continued her ministry of pastoral care and hospitality within the parish and neighbourhood. Benedict now lives at St Catherine’s, Balwyn, where she continues to be a hospitable and caring presence.
Congratulations Goretti, Floriane and Benedict! [Photos and text from Sr Carmel Butler MSC]
Carmel Butler, MSC