Mass for the Profession of Vows of Sister Victoria Cobb, R.S.M., and Sister Caroline Viatkunas, R.S.M.

Celebrated By Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Michael’s Church, North Melbourne,
on Saturday, 10th December, 2005, at 3.00pm

Introduction       

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Once again, I am delighted to be with Sister Kathleen Tierney and with Sister Victoria Cobb, her parents Graeme and Patricia, with Sister Caroline Viatkunas and her mother, Judy, as we are one in prayer with her father, Algis, and the members of their natural and religious family, as they make their public profession of chastity, poverty and obedience in the Sisters of Mercy.

The times in which we live echo a constant desire to search for witness, which is practical, at the level of people, and a giving of self, which draws inspiration from the Lord, who gave himself completely.  Catherine McAuley’s inspiration of service for the poor and education without discrimination is their inspiration and challenge as with them we celebrate this important event. 

In praying for them, as we call to mind our own weaknesses, we pray that Jesus Christ may be their light, their way, their truth and their life.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sisters Victoria and Caroline have come to know both the difficulty and the joy of a life completely dedicated to him and have chosen to make their profession in the community of the Sisters of Mercy.  The whole Church of Melbourne rejoices at their publicly professed love of Jesus Christ and witness to him in chastity, poverty and obedience.

Each of us has our contribution to make towards bringing the love of Christ to the world:-  (a) While the lay life has a particular mission of ensuring that the Gospel message is proclaimed in the temporal sphere, and (b) an indispensable ministry is carried out by those in holy orders, (c) the consecrated life is a way of showing forth the Church’s holiness, which mirrors Christ’s own way.

Sister Caroline and Victoria are saying publicly that they live for the kingdom of heaven.  Sister Caroline as a Nurse and Sister Victoria as a Pastoral Counsellor offer the water of life coming from Jesus to all they meet.  As Jesus was given for others, so will they be given in publicly professed religious life, which makes them consecrated in prayer, strengthened by the challenges they face, and courageous in their walking with the people of our city.

Indeed, Sister Caroline and Victoria, you will continually foster in the people you meet an awareness of the need that we all have to respond with holiness of life to the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  The Truth and love, which Saint Paul offered to the Ephesians, coming from the abundance of Christ, are your gift to our people.

Today we face many important challenges; the authentic proclamation of Christ in the modern world, the paramount importance of Sunday and of the Sunday Mass in the spiritual life of our people.  In this and so many other important respects consecrated men and women have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult circumstances throughout the Church’s history.  These two young women, like Mary, go with haste and a sense of mission into the lives of our people bringing the abundance of God’s mercy.

Today we have a tremendous need of saints.  Victoria and Caroline because of your profession of the counsels in the Gospel, of chastity, poverty and obedience, you have entered a special path to holiness, a school of the Lord’s service, so that by your union with the Lord and faithfulness to the Mercy Charism you will be eloquent by what you are in showing Jesus to a world which sorely needs him.

Catherine McAuley’s words to a young Superior, “Put your whole trust in God – he will never let you want”, are carried further by the words of the first rule that she wrote to the congregation, “Let those whom Christ has graciously permitted to assist him in the person of the suffering poor have their hearts animated with gratitude and love; placing all their confidence in him ever keep his unwearied patience and humility in their minds.”

In Catherine McAuley a peaceful conformity to God’s will brought a rich grace of joy in the spirit and a true happiness in her religious state.  May these wonderful ideals inspire in Victoria and Caroline a faithfulness to the Mercy Charism, which has enriched this part of Australia since the first foundation at Fitzroy in March 1857.

Victoria and Caroline, the Lord has invited, you have wonderfully responded.  He will support you with the gift of his grace and faithfulness because he is constant in his love, ever fulfilling of his promises and never deserting those who place their trust in his love.  May this be so for the whole of your lives, as we joyfully witness your profession.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.