“And for all whom we remember there will ever be a place” (L. Lawton)… and the place is Pairc a’ Tobair where on 24th November, 2011, Sisters representing all areas of the Southern Province met for a tree planting ceremony in remembrance of the deceased Sisters of Mercy of the Province.

“I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree,
A tree whose dewy mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in its hair.
A tree that looks on God all day
And lifts its leafy arms to pray;
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.”
(Joyce Kilmer)

Here in the eco-friendly home of Kathy and Maria, where the interconnectedness of all of life is held sacred, it was very fitting to honour the lives of all our departed Sisters.  As we entered into the mystery of all that is, naming so many Sisters who have gone before us to God, we truly felt attuned to the words of the chant –

“We are strands of the one web
strands of the one web of life.”
(Kathleen Glennon)

Following our Prayer Service we walked through the wooded grove in ‘wellies’ and rain gear. The soft gentle rain held the solemnity of the occasion in its kind embrace. Our spirits were linked to the spirits of those departed Sisters whom we had known and loved.

The lively spirit of our octogenarian, Sr. Evangelist Murphy, was truly inspiring as she stepped forth and placed the sods on the newly planted oak tree. There we stood in thoughtful mood.

“I was particularly happy to be chosen as the person to plant the first tree in the Grove of Memory. During the Prayer Service I was convinced again of how close our lives are to Nature and how close both of us are to God our Creator.  I took this conviction with me as we walked to the site on the hill-side where a plaque had been erected to the memory of the deceased Sisters and where a hole had been dug to receive our young oak.  I took the spade in hand and loosened the clay at the bottom.  A kind neighbour threw in a bucket of loam to enrich the sandy soil of the hill.  Having straightened the tree in its place, I trod the soil to make it more firm. Wasn’t I glad to be wearing my new strong boots!  Again we prayed for the Sisters whom we had known and loved when we were young and who had done so much for us. Going back further, across the span of almost two centuries, I thought of the many Sisters in towns and cities throughout the country who had shown God’s love to our people in times of recession, poverty, war, famine and fever.  As we followed the track back to the house we continued to pray that our lives too would always be instruments of God’s love, compassion and kindness.” (Sr. Evangelist Murphy)

This young oak sapling now takes its place in the Memorial Grove with other trees representing deceased members of the local parish community.

As we returned for a welcome cup of tea and refreshments we were deeply connected to the sentiments of our final hymn –

“There is a place” – Liam Lawton

There is treasure in our fields, there is treasure in our skies,
There is treasure in our dreaming from the soul to the eye,
For wherever we gather in the light of God’s grace,
And for all whom we remember there will ever be a place.

There’s a time to be grateful for moments so blest
The jewels of our memory where love is our guest.

May that love carry us onward until … “I líonta Dé go gastar sinn” … words inscribed on the stone at the foot of the oak tree.

Clare McCarthy rsm & Evangelist Murphy rsm

Slumbering Seedlings

Sleep and grow little seedlings
You don’t know what’s waiting above.
Up here there’s no mercy on weaklings,
Survival’s by push and by shove.

You’ll feel upward when you’re ready
Vaulting ambition, a spark,
So make friends with your sisters and brothers
Don’t just sit and mope round in the dark.

No point in a premature rising
Thinking you’ve got your own spot,
If you can hear me listen;
Be forearmed, forewarned the lot.

Be attuned to your tiny wee body,
Tiny roots, tiny eyes, tiny heart.
One day you will feel that you’re ready,
Let that be the day that you’ll start.

To push upwards and bask in the sunshine
Rejoicing to see your confreres
Arriving in ones, twos and dozens –
Join them, then shoot for the stars.

Teresa Tobin rsm
Southern Province