Celebrating 100 years of giving and caring across the globe

A joyous and reflective celebration at the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim on Saturday morning marked the centenary mass of the ‘Killeshandra Nuns’ and their Order- the Missionary Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary.

Chief Celebrant was Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes, who was accompanied by Archbishop of Tuam and Bawnboy native Dr Francis Duffy; as well as Kilmore Dioseasan Administrator, Fr Kevin Fay; Bishop Emeritus, Leo O’Reilly; and Valerian Okeke, Nigerian Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of the Nigerian city Onitsha since 2003.

People from all over Ireland gathered together to celebrate the Cavan-founded Order’s achievements and the work it has done globally over the last 100 years- to unite and care for those displaced by war, famine and poverty.

Sr Franca Onyibor welcomed everyone, describing the once in a lifetime gathering it as “an historic event”.

“This is time to give thanks and pass on the message through our missionaries,” she added, before the singing started and nuns from the Nigerian congregation danced their way - in worship - to the altar with gifts.

During the homily, Bishop Hayes asked as part of the reflective nature of the day if the scriptures are as relevant in today's world as they have been over the lifetime of the Holy Rosary Sisters. He also compared their achievements to those of global athletes gathered together in Paris vying for gold, silver and bronze in recognition of their own goals and achievements. The Tipperary native suggested the innate goodness that shines in so many people despite the atrocity of war, famine and poverty, runs in tandem with all of that.

“Today, is about hope” continued Bishop Martin. “Despite the poverty, the injustice, the violence, we are hopeful that Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith. What we are celebrating today is about faith and the endeavours of Bishop Joseph Shanahan in his joy of liturgy. We hear much talk today in the context of the Olympics taking place in Paris - a place for athletes to achieve their goals. What we are celebrating today is our faith in God and the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us; the 100 years story of the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary and the extraordinary power of the nuns.”

He went on to say that Bishop Joseph Shanahan’s “innate goodness' was the inspiration in the first instance.

Bishop Shanahan founded the Congregation in Killeshandra in March 1924, an Order which became affectionately-known as the ‘Killeshandra Nuns’.

“We give thanks for his missionary work in Nigeria and we are grateful to the Holy Rosary Sisters for their response to Bishop Shanahan’s invitation to go out to Nigeria. We are grateful for the spiritual energy that initially shaped the Holy Rosary congregation which was among the first female missionary congregations in Ireland.

“As we reflect on the last 100 years, we give thanks for what is happening in the Mission of the Holy Rosary Sisters throughout the world and for their hopes for the future as they follow the example of Bishop Shanahan and place their trust in God.”

He added: “They are dealing with civil war, crisis and famine by responding to the needs of people impacted by this. Their work overseas on human rights, primary healthcare, and missionary is as important as it’s needed and we are grateful to them for this.”

After the Bishop’s Homily there was much singing and praise offered by those gathered before the Mass came to a conclusion. The celebrations continued well into the afternoon in nearby St Pat’s College. The old adage: From little acorns do great oaks grow was most certainly to the fore on Saturday last in Co Cavan as the Missionary Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary celebrated 100 years of dedication to making the world a better place in which to live.

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An ‘innate goodness’ in the hearts of the Killeshandra Nuns