There was a very nice account in St. Canice’s Parish Newsletter of the Jubilee celebrations last week in Kilkenny.
Pictured above are left to right, Sr. Stephanie O’Brien IBVM, Sr. Winifred Doyle IBVM, Sr. Roisin Darcy IBVM and Sr. Kathleen O’Grady IBVM.
St Canice’s Parish Kilkenny
29/09/2024
O how oft in my thoughts……
Last Wednesday we celebrated the feast of St. Finbar and I began Mass with a hint of the Banks of my own Lovely Lee! St. Finbar founded his hermitage at the beautiful Gougane Barra in West Cork, beside the lake in beautiful tranquility, ideal for his solitude. On that day we had a wonderful celebration at Loreto Convent of 4 Jubilees – total of 270 years of Religious Life – stretched out over 4 Continents Europe: Kathleen and Roisín, India and South America: Winnie, Africa –Kenya : Stephanie. Sr. Winifred is celebrating 70 years and Sisters Kathleen, Roisín and Stephanie 60 years. Sr.Lucy who hails from Wexford gave a lovely address at the end of dinner. “We have every reason to celebrate with you and to thank God for the blessing of 60/70 years.” She remembered the earlier years when Religious Life seemed to be flourishing – full novitiates and seminaries and the foreign missions were very much alive. But then came changes which were exciting and challenging. Vatican 11 set the ball rolling as it were. We were sent back to our roots, and to Mary Ward of whom we then knew so little. There were many meetings, seminars, webinars, Zoom etc. And now we are at the cusp of Reunion / Merges with CJ Companions in the Institute of the Synodal pathway in the Church. Mary Ward said in the 1600s that women in time to come would do great things in the Church. These are prophetic words. These Sisters are 4 of those women (Sr. Lucy ‘BVM’) These Sisters live here in our parish at Loreto Convent. We congratulate them and ask for blessings upon them. May their prayers and the faithful witness of their lives be an encouragement to all of us in our efforts to be joyful followers of the Lord. I enjoyed the lovely dinner and forgot to regale them with the Banks at the end! Next week I will make up for my lapse of memory. Ad multos annos – Fr. Jim