Xaghra Parish » Gallery » 2008 » 26 OCT 08 THANKSGIVING MASS SR GEORGANNE MARIE SULTANA
Two years ago, 23 year old Melissa Sultana from Xaghra, joined the Ursuline Religious Congregation in Sliema. Melissa comes from a big family but in joining the Ursuline Sisters she chose to heed God`s call to care for a bigger family of children under the care of the Sisters. On Saturday 25th October 2008 she professed her first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience attached to her vocation. The ceremony took place in the Holy Family Church of the Ursuline Sisters in in Sliema. As from that moment Melissa chose to be known as Sr Georganne Marie, taking on her parents` names. In a moving liturgical ceremony, she received her new habit, a cross, the Ursuline Sisters' Constitutions and Rule and a Crown of Flowers from the hands of Xaghra Archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo. On Sunday the day after, at Maria Bambina Basilica in Xaghra, her place of birth, Sr Georganne Marie attended a Mass of Thanksgiving to God for her first profession. Accompanied by her family and in a Church packed with the faithful, relatives and friends, she attended Mass celebrated by Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Archpriest of Xaghra with nine other priests co-celebrating and Xaghra`s three deacons taking part. Sr Georganne Marie led the procession to the altar holding a lit candle in hand which she placed on the altar. Many rows of front pews were reserved for her mother, brothers and sisters, their spouses and their children. Three nieces read the Lessons and the Psalms, Rev Deacon Anthony Bajada read the Gospel. During his homily, Mgr Refalo, dwelt on the nobility of her vocation, a fulfilled life instead of a wasted one and her courage to say yes to the Lord's call. After the homily, Sr Georganne Marie proceeded to the ambone from where she paid thanks to the Lord for all He bestowed upon her and which were instrumental in nourishing her vocation. Among these were her parents, her relatives, the Parish Community of Xaghra, her teachers and many others. Three nephews and four nieces read the bidding prayers. The procession with the offerings was led by two very young nieces who carried a cross and a Bible. They were followed by her brothers and sisters and finally her mother and herself. Her young nieces held a soft toy to be offered to the children under her care. After Mass, Sr Georganne Marie followed the co-celebrants in procession to the niche housing the statue of Maria Bambina, Our Lady of Victory. A short prayer was said at the end of which, Sr. Georganne Marie, accompanied by Mgr Refalo, placed a bouquet of white flowers, matching her new habit, in front of the image of Maria Bambina. Seminarian Simon Cauchi animated Mass, the choir Schola Cantorum Jubilate under the direction of Marouska Attard with Stephen Attard on the organ animated the singing. Money collected during Mass was offered to the religious institution, that is the Ursuline Congregation, to which Sr Georganne Marie now belongs.
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