This article is from page 2 of the 2012-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
ALMOST 1,000 people turned out at the Church of Corpus Christi in Lisdoonvarna on Sunday to witness local Sister Margaret Mary receive the highest award that the Pope can allocate.
In one of his first official engagements since his appointment, Papal Nuncio Charles Brown presented Sister Margaret Mary with the Papal Gold Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice after communion at 11.30am mass.
The Papal Nuncio presented Sr Margaret Mary with the medal on behalf of his holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, in recognition of her decades of service to the Sisters of Mercy and education in North Clare.
Eternally modest, Sr Margaret Mary dedicated the medal to all the sisters who helped found and run Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna.
“I know it is mortifying for you personally to find yourself the centre of the Church’s attention this morn- ing. It is an awesome thing to feel something of Saint Peter himself point you out to us afresh, as he taps you on the shoulder to say thanks thanks for your lifetime’s companionship of Christ and your unstinting humble ministry to his people,” said Lisdoonvarna priest, Fr Conor Cunningham. “Sister Margaret Mary is deeply loved and admired by the whole community for her kindness, her hard-working nature, her humility and above all for her striking example of living faith, prayerfulness and service.
“It is this example of everyday holiness and joy that above all that has brought her life’s witness to the attention of the Holy Father so that all may benefit,” he said.
Originally from County Mayo, Sr Margaret Mary moved first to Ennistymon to take up a position with the Sisters of Mercy, before becoming one of the founding teachers at Mary Immaculate Secondary School in 1949.
“It has been a joy to me to live among you here in North Clare for most of my life and to serve God and to serve you as best I can. I never expected any notice or reward for my modest contribution. The joy of serving God and serving you was reward enough for me,” she said.
“I want very much to associate all my dear friends in the Sisters of Mercy with this honour. Today I am thinking especially of our beloved departed sisters and friends. I am very grateful to you all for coming to today’s celebration of faith and education in Lisdoonvarna.”