The SVD Marsfield community recently celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of their friend and Arnoldus family member, Sr Josapha Lergessner SSpS.

Sr Josapha, together with SSpS sisters and friends, joined the SVD Marsfield community for a special Mass and dinner to mark the milestone of 60 years since she took her first vows as a Holy Spirit Missionary Sister.

Born at Wilston, Brisbane in 1932, Sr Josapha’s family moved to Grange where she lived until entering the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in Aspley (now Carseldine) on August 15, 1952.

After taking final vows in 1959, she received her missionary assignment to India.

“To be a fruitful missionary, I felt it was of paramount importance to learn to write, read and speak the language of the people, in my case, Hindi,” she says.

“Over 40 years in India, particularly in the Diocese of Indore and Khandwa, MP, I was involved in many types of social work amongst the poor and needy, irrespective of their race, caste or creed.

“I worked with lepers, the destitute aged, orphans, and also with the foundation of a Diocesan Religious Congregation known as the Sant Joseph Sevika Sanstha, which is engaged in the various works of development services for the people and especially for the uplift of women in the society.”

Sr Josapha says that when she looks back over her 60 years in vows, she gives thanks to God.

“Knowing my very ordinary background, I can only marvel at the graces and unique opportunities I have received over the past 60 years of religious life,” she says.

“God can use anyone in extraordinary ways for his work among his people.”

The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters were founded by German priest, St Arnold Janssen (who also founded the Divine Word Missionaries), and two German women, Helena Stollenwerk and Hendrina Stenmanns, in 1889.

They arrived in Brisbane in May 1944 as survivors of the Japanese prison camps and death ships in PNG. Over the years, the Sisters have been involved in many ministries – among Aboriginal people, with refugees and migrants, prisoners, Pastoral Assistances in parishes, hospitals and aged care, with youth, Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care, with trafficked women, Interfaith, retreats and spirituality ministry.

They currently have communities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Fiji. Members have served in various other countries of the world and the Australian SSpS Province receives Sisters from many different countries.