Sister Rachel Timme smsm made her perpetual vows as a Missionary Sister of the Society of Mary on January 3rd 2016 at the parish of Saints Philip and James in Lucea in the diocese of Montego Bay Jamaica. Bishop Burchell McPherson officiated.

Sr. Rachel is originally from the Solomon Islands and made her first vows in New Zealand in 2008. She has been serving in Jamaica for the past two years.

After the Mass, sister Rachel offered these words of thanksgiving to the community:

GREAT IS GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
As I journey through life as a Christian and as an SMSM, I have come to realize that God’s mercy, which He has continued to manifest through His love and faithfulness in my day-to-day encounters with every person with whom I come in contact, has been for me an experience of deep consciousness of God’s daily fidelity and love for me, for those that I love, and for every person that comes into my life.
I would like to thank God for the gift of life that He gave me through my parents, and for the gift of my brothers, sisters, relatives and friends who also shaped and enriched me in one way or another in my early upbringing. Above all, I want to thank God for the gift of my Dad and Mum: for their love and support in the way they have formed and shaped me to become the person I am today, and especially for the gift of faith and love for God and Mary and for others.
For even though they are both no longer with us, I can say that, every time I think of them or pray for Mum and Dad, I pray with joy, because through their lived experience of faith, love, daily commitment and prayer, I learned to know, love and fear God, and now, I can proudly say, thank you God for the gift of Dad and Mum to me and my family.
Also, I would like to thank those who have supported me through my early formation in the Marist Family and in our SMSM Congregation: the Fathers, Brothers and our Sisters. Those of you who have accompanied me as spiritual directors and faith companions: thank you so much for being part of my journey and for the many ways that you have inspired, enriched and challenged me to grow to become the person God wants me to be. Not forgetting also the Sisters and those who have supported me in one way or another, through their prayers, thoughts, emails or cards that were sent, especially during the preparation for my Perpetual Vows and on the day of my Perpetual Commitment: thank you all and God bless you.
Indeed, God’s love and faithfulness is so great that it was shown to me through the celebration of my continual yes to God on Sunday the 3rd of January 2016 through the love, support and the efforts of my Sisters and the people of our Parish Church of Saints Philip and James, Lucea and mission Church of Saint Gabriel, Cave Valley. This has affirmed me that the God who calls me and each one of us, is faithful and can only act in me, if I am faithful and available for Him.
These graced moments overwhelm me with great joy and gratitude and all I can do is thank God for His goodness and to pray that God will bless in abundance the generosity of these people. As I continue to pray for each of you, I believe that you will also pray for me as I walk this road into the future. With this, I can humbly say that, “aware of my own poverty, I continually look to Mary for inspiration, help and renewed strength in all circumstances and at every stage of my life” (Const. # 10). And, above all, I am certain of God’s guidance as I move forward in faith.