The Parish Sister works with the priests and the Parish Pastoral Council to look at the needs of the parish and to see how best these needs can be met.  Duties and responsibilities vary from parish to parish.  Where a Pastoral Centre is in operation, the Parish Sister sees to its smooth running and to the care of the staff on a day-to-day basis.  Various groups use the centre, so respect, courtesy and confidentiality from staff to all groups is necessary.

The Parish Sister attends weekly meetings with the priests and meets staff at regular intervals.  She encourages the parishioners to use their talents in various groups, e.g. Baptismal Group Liturgy, Ministers of the Word and Eucharist, Children’s Liturgy, St. Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society, Altar Society, etc.  Training is provided for these groups and they are met from time to time by the priests and Sister on an ongoing basis.

The Parish Sister arranges counselling for adults on request and for children who are coping with bereavement (Rainbows).  She does parish, hospital and St. Vincent de Paul visitation.  This includes distributing hampers at Christmas to disadvantaged families.

The Parish Pastoral team welcomes everybody and a “cuppa” is regularly provided.  A Mothers’ Prayer Group exists and there is an opportunity to pray with individuals who call with problems.

In rural parishes the Sister helps the priest with First Friday Communion calls, visits schools, trains the parish choir and attends Station Masses in local houses.

The work of the Parish Sister can involve long hours and demanding situations.  It calls for patience and creativity but is, in my experience, very fulfilling and enriching.  (Sr. de Lourdes Fleming)

Sr. de Lourdes Fleming, Tralee is the Parish Sister in St. Brendan’s parish, having spent most of her life in education.   She was appointed in 1999.  As the longest serving member of staff, she reminds people that she was appointed in the last century!  She takes responsibility for the groups that use the Parish Centre and she does a lot of parish visitation. 

de Lourdes Fleming rsm
Southern Province