Nigerian Ruby Jubilee celebrated in Ireland

They travelled from the far North and the far South, from the East and the North West, all on the road to Emmaus. It was Tuesday 3rd August, the day chosen to celebrate 40 years of Mercy life and ministry in what is now the Nigerian Region of the Northern Province. The warm welcome and hearty congratulations extended by Nellie McLoughlin rsm, Provincial Leader of the Northern Province, set the celebratory tone for the day. Cait O’Dwyer rsm represented the Congregational Leadership Team.

Cheery chatter on recognising companions along the journey, together with sharing of stories, memories, prayer, laughter, tears and a Christian vision of the new universe story were some of the characteristics of this very memorable day.

Commemorative Card presented at the Ceremony in Emmaus, Swords, Co Dublin

Sisters remembered how they recognised the call as they talked at chapters long ago. A few women volunteered to scatter the Mercy seeds in Yola (1969), Minna (1975) and Lagos ( 1986).

Founding Sisters – Srs. Mary Jo Sheehy, Emmanuel Ahearne, Philomena Kelly, Mary Flynn

To witness the four 1969 pioneering Sisters – ‘still bearing fruit, full of sap’ – stand up in the hall that morning to tumultuous applause was a moment of immense emotion when all present rose to their feet in appreciation, gratitude, joy and pride. Similar feelings were expressed for each one of the sixty three women who had served for long or short periods during those forty years – there must have been in the region of 500 years of generous compassionate service in that room. What a bumper harvest? Of course all acknowledged that in giving they had received in abundance: ‘pressed down, shaken together and running over’. Sisters who had died or who were unable to attend were remembered in appreciation and prayer. The seven Sisters now flying the flag in Nigeria looked swish in their specially tailored outfits of African cloth. Among them was native Nigerian Sister Juliana Yarkwan who received an especially warm welcome. Two young Kenyan Sisters were among a number of guests.

Sisters Currently Working in Nigeria
Srs. Maire McGann, Julianna Yarkwan, Kathleen Hannon, Carmel Loye, Goretti Kelleher, Agnes Crowley, Margaret Slattery.

Key note speaker and chief celebrant at Eucharist was Fr. Sean McDonagh SSC. In a fascinating, mind-boggling address he power-pointed and talked through hundreds of billions of geological years to the point where human life emerged at about five minutes to midnight, give or take a minute or two! All in the context of our divine christian eucharistic story. There was a great cheer for Sr. Lucy who had spent time in Lagos, when her namesake was announced as the first human to inhabit the earth, on the continent of Africa!

After a tasty dinner the afternoon was given over to a sharing of memories and stories. Photograph albums displayed in the colourfully decorated hall were fine-combed. Maire McGann rsm gave a very insightful power-point display while vibrant facilitator, Deirdre McKenna rsm elicited responses, commentary and more memories.

Sr. Maire McGann

Presentations and votes of thanks were made, and the special jubilee cake was cut for the cup of tea before departure.

Celebratory Cake

People lingered on, savouring the moment, aware that ‘that which came to me as seed goes out as blossom and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as fruit’ (Dawna Markova: I Will Not Die an Unlived Life)

Srs. Julianna Yarkwan, Nigeria, Virginia Kasai, Kenya, Esther Erus, Kenya, Eileen Troy, Ireland

Joan McManus rsm
Northern Province