It was a day of joy and jubilation, as Bunda Carmel geared itself up to celebrate the diamond jubilee of profession of Rev. Sr. Maria Gabriela OCD. The celebrations were set in motion with the celebration of the Eucharist. Rev. Fr. Nelson Vaz OCD, the first councilor of the Regional Vicariate of Tanzania presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Fr. Mapendo, parish priest of Bunda, Fr. Sunil Menezes OCD, few of the neighboring men and women religious, some of the friends of Carmel, joined Sr. Gabriela, the jubilarian and the Carmelite Monastery in thanking God for the witness and the consecrated life of Sr. Gabriela. Presence of the cousin of Sr. Gabriela who arrived from Mumbai along with his family to join in the festivities added further hues to the event.

In his homily, Fr. Sunil Menezes invited the congregation gathered to thank the Lord for his marvelous work in and through the life of Sr. Gabriela, as this sixty years of consecration and commitment is only possible through the grace of God. In congratulating Sr. Gabriela for this great milestone in her life, he further encouraged those gathered to be inspired by life witness of the jubilarian and embrace all the challenges one may face and courageously go forth in living a life of witness to Christ. While pointing out the inherent challenges posed by the modernity and the relativism which normally would propose easy shortcuts which only would bring about brokenness and unhappiness.

At the end of the Eucharist, Sr. Maria Gabriela was felicitated. And all present joined in the celebratory meal prepared and arranged by the friends of Carmel. May God continue to grant all necessary graces and good health to Sr. Gabriela so she could still continue to permeate the fragrance of Carmel to those around her.