Benemerenti Medal for dedicated Sister

4 years ago

WelCom December 2020

Bernadette Patelesio

Supported by Sisters of Compassion, Sr Therese Couderc dolc (centre) wears her Benerementi Papal Medal received for ‘60 years long service to Church and Community’. The Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion, is a Catholic religious order founded in Jerusalem on the Whanganui River in 1892 by Venerable Suzanne Aubert. Photo: Supplied

A joyful celebration for Sr Therese Couderc at St Patrick’s Wainuiomata community took place after Mass on Sunday 1 November.

Supported by members of her community, Sr Therese, a Sister of Compassion, was presented with the Benemerenti Papal Medal for ‘60 years long service to Church and Community’. A fine lunch prepared by many parishioners completed the celebrations.

Following her profession Sr Therese worked in hospitals for many years as a Theatre Nurse. She then journeyed to Rome and studied Theology. She later set up a library, enabling the Sisters to study Theology and new developments in the Church. She became Secretary General and then Novice Mistress and worked for a time in Carterton with children with disabilities.

Sr Therese now lives in Wainuiomata where she serves well and instructs many for their entry into the Church.

Bernadette Patelesio is a member of Te Wairua Tapu – Parish of the Holy Spirit.