She made it

News Item

 This is a story about a Remarkable lady!
Some of you might remember a lady selling raffle-tickets during our annual festival. She used to wear a high red, white, blue and orange hat.
Well, she was a very dedicated and motivated seller and tried every year to improve on her sales. Her name is Sr. Lidwina van Wel .
This lady was struck by the big ‘C' and even though she was very tired at our last Festival , she still came to sell some tickets for the club.
She belongs to the order of "the Presentation Sisters ".
Their order is based in Wagga Wagga .
A few months ago it was decided that she would go back to Wagga, to be looked after by the sisters there and be closer to her family, that live in Wagga and Melbourne. Sr. Lidwina was at all times very positive about her condition. She was determined to make her golden jubilee celebration. ‘50years in the order’
When she transferred to Wagga her doctors did not give her much hope of making her big day! But with all our prayers and her willpower she made it. Jo-Ann & I (Sjoerd) went down to Wagga on the 14th August and witnessed an amazing, happy woman. There was a celebration-mass in the Cathedral, celebrated by no less than 3 Bishops and another 3 Priest, which in the Catholic Faith is something very special.
One of the priests was a cousin of Sr. Lidwina, who specially came over from Holland to be present. (Another remarkable person, who is wheel- chair -bound, but he still made the trip).
It had rained the Friday, but on the Saturday, celebration-day, the sun was shining and she could not be happier!  She had prayed to the blessed Mary Mackillop for intervention to let her make it, and whatever happened after that, she left in the hands of our Lord.
Jo-Ann & I stayed at our family farm in Holbrook and we met up with Sr. Lidwina again on the Monday to rehash the Saturday- celebration.
She was over the moon. Very tired but in good spirit.
On Saturday, 4th September 2010 there will be another celebration here in Sydney, for all her friends that could not make it to Wagga.
There will be a Eucharistic Mass at 10.30 am at St. Patrick's church,
136 Flora Street (cnr. Belmont St.) Sutherland. We all hope that she will make this one as well. Our prayers are with her! The club is fortunate to have a Member of her stature and I am proud to be her friend.
May the lord bless you, Lidwina and keep you in the palm of his hand.
                            Sjoerd Rasker
Note: The celebration on the 4th of September was ver moving.A church full of well wishers, special friends and family. Life id good.   Mia