On Wednesday 4th February 2009 Sr Kate McPhee left Sydney to begin a Marist Sisters Community in Kanosia in the diocese of Bereina. Sr Anne Rounds, Regional Council of the Marist Sisters in Asia Pacific, accompanied Kate. After two weeks Anne returned to New Zealand and Kate busied herself preparing for the arrival of her two companions. In early March Sr Jane Frances O’Carroll, Congregational Leader, visited Kate. The woman of the village dressed in traditional grass skirts, with painted faces, flowers on their heads and leaves tucked into bands on their upper arms, placed a lei around Jane’s neck and proceeded to accompany her to the sisters’ home as they performed the traditional dance of the Central Province. This dance was followed by a shared meal prepared by the teachers. On 23rd February three young women from Papua New Guinea, Catherine, Celina and Mary Lily, arrived in the Philippines to continue their journey to become Marist Sisters.
