When I went home for a nephew's wedding last Christmas I mentioned that it would be my Golden Jubilee in September - but I said that I wouldn't want them to come to the Isle of Wight as it would be too costly and secondly we couldn't accommodate so many. I suggested that I would come hone and celebrate with them, like that everyone could be there.

We thought first of having it in the parish hall in my home parish and then someone suggested the SMA(African Missionaries) College, now a Pastoral Centre, which is only 10 minutes in the car from my home. I asked my eldest brother Art to organise it & book a day after the 6th September - so we had it on 13th September.

It was a fantastic day in every way, we were 160 in all - less than 20 were not family. Everyone enjoyed it as much as I did, meeting up with cousins & members of the family they hadn't seen for a long time.

I have 54 nephews and nieces & 41 great nephews and nieces, the youngest of these was 3 weeks old. Only my 2 nieces and one nephew from Australia were not there but they were speaking to me on the day. It was lovely to hear them, one niece is married and has 2 sons, whom I hope I will see one day. One of my nieces prepared the Mass booklet and another got it printed.

Fr Fergus Conlan (a brother of Sr. Ita Conlan, who was our Superior General for 12 years until last July) celebrated the Mass, as he was home from Zambia on leave. He was delighted to do it as he knew me and the family well. We had the Mass at 3p.m. followed by photographs and then we had a beautiful cooked meal, plenty of it and enjoyed by all.

As you can imagine there was plenty of chat and some of the younger generation entertained us in their own way. The evening finished at 9.30p.m. - by that time most of the younger families were on their way home, some had long journeys in front of them. It was a day I shall never forget, an occasion which may never happen again.

Several past pupils sent me wishes, I would like to thank them. I haven't got round to saying `thank you' to all those who wrote, I had so many cards. As you can imagine by the time I got round to writing to all my family, which only happened a few weeks ago, I came to a standstill as I had other important matters awaiting my attention.

With Sr. MARGUERITE leaving us for Sittingbourne it wasn't easy to do things as one would like to have done. She left us on 3rd November and seems to be settling in gently. It is a big change for her, after having spent most of her religious life here. We do miss her around.

Sr. May

Thank you for sharing such a special time with us, Sr. May.

It was a lovely surprise to see SISTER BERNARDINE at the reunion in July. After all the years spent in Rome it is good to know that she is back in London.

SISTERS KATHLEEN GARROD and ROSA CRONIN came with Sister Bernardine; Paul Gillings kindly took them on a tour of St. Thomas Garnet's School to see the changes made since their days.

The Association sent a card and flowers to Sister Rosa and had a Mass offered for her intentions on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee, Sister Bernardine kindly arranged the Mass in London for us.

The Jubilee celebrations took place on Saturday 16th August, amidst great joy and thanksgiving. Sister Rosa asked me to thank you all for your good wishes. The new Superior at the Parkwood Road Convent, SISTER FRANCES joined us with ever faithful SISTERS CATHERINE REYNELL and NORAH BIRCH.