SISTERS’ NEW HABIT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 2

SISTERS’ NEW HABIT

Traditional habit worn by the sisters of the Order of Our Lady of Nazareth has been adapted to incorporate a form of their native Fijian dress.

The sisters now have an indoor and outdoor habit, both with a sulu or long underskirt The indoor habit is a fawn, drip-dry poplin dress with tucked bodice and unpressed pleated skirt, buttoning down the front. The outdoor habit is a simi-

lar style in cream wool and terylene, but the skirt is permanently pleated. Both dresses have short sleeves and the skirts are worn mid-calf. The sulu, which is made from cocoa brown corded silk, is worn underneath the dresses at ankle length. A white cotton scarf, tied at the nape of the neck, forms the veil which is worn outdoors. The mission was founded in Fiji in 1891 in association with the Marist mission sisters. In 1950 they began a separate existence, training in New Zealand and Australia.

The sisters help staff presbyteries, and undertake nursing, teaching and domestic training. Three sisters are at present at Christchurch and three in Auckland.

During their training here, which may be for two to three years, they have an addition to their habit—a fawn gaberdine coat In their homeland’s warm climate sandals are worn, but brown leather shoes are substituted here. Mother Martina, the superior general of the order, and the first Fijian to hold this position, is in Christchurch visiting local members of the order and her staff at the Roman Catholic Cathedral presbytery. She has also been to Sydney, Canberra, and Auckland. This is her third visit to Auckland and she knows the city well for she trained there for three years. “The order is growling all the time," Mother Martina said yesterday. "This year we have 11 novices. Teaching, nursing, looking after the

mission stations, and hostels are our main functions.”

The order has now spread to Tonga, and is hoping to open an orphanage in Fiji soon. In Suva the sisters run a home for elderly men. Eight sisters are studying at the Teachers’ Training College in Fiji, and will teach at the order’s three schools.

“The training the sisters receive here and in Australia if very valuable. Two sisters who trained at Calvary Hospital and one who trained in Sydney are now going to start a clinic in Fiji,” said Mother Martina.

The picture shows, from left, Sister Florence in the former habit, a white linen long-sleeved dress worn ankle length with a cape, long scarf veil and white stockings; Sister Vincent in the new indoor habit; Mother Martina wearing her travelling coat; and Sister Catherine in the outdoor -habit.