News Items

Monday
8th February 2021
Sr Evangelist Barrett PBVM
Celebrates 100 years of age.

On Monday 8th of February 2021 a small crowd, due to Covid-19 restrictions and Aged Care Policy, gathered around Sr Evangelist Barrett to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Celebrations began with Mass in Nazareth House Chapel, which was concelebrated by a few of the available Geraldton Clergy, with the main celebrant being Fr Brian Ahearn, the Vicar General of the Diocese, as Bishop Michael Morrissey, unfortunately, was unable to return from the Pilbara in time to lead the celebrations, due to Cyclone Damien reeking havoc and flooding in the north of the state, causing significant road damage on the Northwest Coastal Hwy, especially north of Carnarvon.

Mary Bridget Barrett was born in County Cork, Ireland, on the 8^th February 1921. The youngest of seven siblings to farmers, James and Catherine.

After attending school at Kilcoleman, Enniskeane, she came to Geraldton and entered the Presentation Congregation as Sister Evangelist in November 1937.

Evangelist was professed in December 1940 and began a long teaching career throughout the Geraldton Diocese beginning in Geraldton and moving to Mount Magnet, Tardun, Greenough, Wiluna, Northampton, Carnarvon, Big Bell, Bluff Point, Wonthella, Port Hedland, and then often returning to the same town for a second and third time.

After a teaching career of 54 years Sister Evangelist was often out and about volunteering in various projects around Geraldton, especially in the Centacare Family Services, Vincent de Paul, Hospice and RCIA programs, before her ‘real retirement’ arrived.

For many years she resided with Sr Dolores Desmond and Sr Goretti Keane in Wandina, Geraldton, as the last standing Presentation Sisters in the Diocese of Geraldton, after the Presentation Convent was taken up by the ever-expanding Nagle Catholic College, and many Sisters moved out to Perth. Sr Evangelist, together with Srs Dolores and Goretti, adjusted to the transition of suburban life in Geraldton relatively well considering the Convent had been the Sister's long-established base for a huge part of their life spans.

Finally, at the ripe age of 97 years, Sr Evangelist moved to Nazareth House, Bluff Point, in 2018 - for a little more assistance!

Apart from celebrating her 100^thbirthday in 2021, Sister Evangelist celebrated 80 years of Religious Profession (Oak Jubilee) on December 19^th, 2020. Sr Evangelist received two special joys on this occasion, a papal blessing from Pope Francis and a cardigan sent by her niece, Mary, all the way from Ireland.

Thank you to the Nazareth House Sisters and all the Carers for always providing such wonderful hospitality and care.

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