Day 2 of the 150 celebration of the coming of the Cabra Dominican sisters to Capetown was celebrated with a mass of Thanksgiving. The celebrant was Monsignor Clifford Stokes assisted by Fr Hugh O’Connor. Fr Hugh welcomed everyone, reminding us that we have come to celebrate together, to meet one another together and to give thanks together. Mrs Ursula Vivier, principal of St Mary’s since 2003 welcomed everyone. She and her staff made the evening’s celebration possible with a beautiful liturgy, followed by refreshments and surrounded by the work of the school children. The children were present also in the church welcoming people and as servers during the mass.

Monsignor Stokes gave an excellent homily where he relayed the history of the sisters coming, the context of the time and all that has been achieved in the field of education. Sr Marian O’Sullivan was spoken of by him as a courageous Dominican woman for her unflinching stand in defiance of the government during the apartheid times.( Monsignor Stokes was not aware that Sr Marian was present in the congregation at this mass). The whole celebration was very moving.