Sister Cecile Hoarau passes away |08 January 2022
Sister Cecile Hoarau from the Order of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny passed away on January 3 at the Convent of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in Victoria. She was 86 years old.
Born Merina Paulette, the daughter of Leopold and Elizabeth born Luther Hoarau, she came into this world on February 6, 1935.
Since the age of five she said, “I want to become a nun with the Sisters of St Joseph”. She started school in 1940 at the convent of the Sisters of St Joseph until 1948. In 1950 a sister asked her to come and help at the Ste Thérèse School in Victoria. She accepted and began her teaching career in P4. Her desire to be in the Convent and to become a nun persisted. This became a reality on January 5, 1956, a month before her 21st birthday.
So on this “red letter” day, January 5, 1956, Merina came to St Joseph Convent once again at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and this time as an aspirant to Religious Life. She was accompanied by Father Chang-Tave, her parish priest, her mother, her younger brother Gaby and neighbour Willy Bonnelame.
After six months as a Postulant, she started her novitiate in September that same year. Two years later, her novitiate formation over, on September 11, 1958, she made her first vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity, according to the Constitutions and in the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny taking the name of Soeur Cecile de Marie Reine Immaculée Hoarau. Six years later on August 25, 1964, she made her perpetual vows.
To continue her teaching career, she followed a two-year course at the Teacher Training College. She continued to teach for 47 years in different schools, including Anse Boileau, Ste Thérèse School, English River and La Misère until her retirement in 1998.
She then moved to Roche Caiman on January 15, 1999 where she continued her mission, in the missionary spirit of Blessed Anne Marie, with both adults and children. She was particularly faithful in visiting the sick and bringing the Holy Communion to them in their homes.
On September 11, 2018, she celebrated 60 years of religious life in the fidelity of the Lord, at Plaisance Parish Church.
On April 1, 2020, advancing in age and with difficulty in her mobility, she returned to the St Joseph’s Convent until her peaceful passing on the Monday morning of January 3, 2022.
She was 86 years old and had served 63 years of Religious Life in the Congregation of Saint Joseph of Cluny. May she rests in peace and enjoy the reward of the Master she faithfully served.
She leaves behind her one remaining brother Gaby Hoarau, her nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
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