Family Care Sisters (The ‘Grey Sisters’) closing their house for mothers at Croydon
MSC students and members of the Croydon Monastery community, Brothers and Priests, from the 1940s to the 1980s, will have had contact with the Sisters. And, the Sisters invited us to use their community house at Canterbury for Heart of Life, 1986-2002. We have had some strong bonds with the Sisters.
Now there are only two, Jill Harding and Michele Toussaint.
Their ministry for some years has been linked with the Sisters of Mercy. Many Mercy Sisters were present at the Mass.
Saturday August 19th saw a Mass of Appreciation as the Sisters move from their house in Alto Ave, Kewn Kreestha. It was celebrated in the Croydon parish church – which was formerly the Monastery chapel.
Paul Castley MSC presided at the Eucharist.
Jill and Michele participated, Eucharistic ministers, thanking those who had come to celebrate with them.
Intercessions led by Lis Teggelove RSM and Sue Gesell, long associated with the Sisters.
Some mothers spoke of their times at Croydon and presented floral tributes.
Fr Gerard Dowling who lived in the cottage at Canterbury was present as were members of several Sisters’ congregations, a welcome to the ceremony by MSC Sisters Provincial, Tess Veenker.
After the Mass, quite an afternoon tea spread – in what used to be the community refectory, the solid tables and the strong chairs from the past still there.
Jill and Michele will live at Canterbury and continue their ministry.
