On Saturday 12th May, 2007, we gathered in the Braamfontein Church – Johannesburg, South Africa – to celebrate a hundred years of Mercy presence in this particular suburb of Johannesburg. The Sisters of Mercy were invited to Braamfontein to start a school in the area in 1907 and our presence has been here down the years.
Sr. Therese Tangney, the South African Provincial Leader, and also a past teacher at the school, welcomed all the guests to the occasion.
We attended an inspirational Mass, with an African flavour, celebrated by Fr. Russell SJ and Fr. Fidgeon OMI. The McAuley House marimba band did us proud, as did the five primary school pupils who danced the offertory procession. Dawn Morris a past pupil of Braamfontein Convent, sang a number of solos in a beautiful contralto.
After the Mass, past pupils, parents and teachers mingled with those now involved with McAuley House. News was exchanged and many reminisced over the old days. During the Mass, Sr. Marilyn Brown, guided the congregation through a communion reflection where she invited all present to meet the women of Mercy at a well.
Communion Reflection
“I would like to take you on an imaginary journey.
You are standing in a very dry semi-desert area. The earth is very sandy and barren and dry withered thorn bushes are scattered about in this place. Ahead of you is a well. You walk towards the well. It is made of stone and has a bucket attached to a hook in the wall with a long rope. You see a number of women sitting around the well.
Someone has drawn up a bucket of water from the well and each woman scoops out a jug of this water and pours it on the ground near the well. These are women of mercy. A hundred years ago the first of them came bringing their gifts, sharing their talents. Malachi, Alacoque, Raphael, Aidan, each one pouring their jug of water on to the parched earth. Veronica, Augustine, Aloysius – and many others down the years. Perhaps you recognize some of these women.
You watch very closely and you see that a little green shoot begins to push its way up through the watered earth. It grows up and up, reaching up into the sky and spreading its branches – an umbrella acacia tree. It is beautiful, with dark green leaves and a rich brown stem and branches. It gives shade to many people and birds make their nests in its branches.
From the roots of the tree a spring gushes forth and flows out into the dry land forming a stream of hope, of compassion, of peace, the gifts brought by these women of mercy down through the years.
You sit down beside the stream and listen to the soothing sound it makes as it flows over the rocks. You decide to drink some of this water and as you swallow it you feel a wonderful peaceful energy spreading throughout your body – the gift of these women of mercy.
And now it is time to leave this place. You say good bye to these women at the well and thank them for their years of service.”
South African Province
