Tribute To Sr. Rosario McNamara On 29th September, 2012
September 29th, 2012 was a very special day in the Mercy Convent, Dungarvan, Co Waterford and adjoining Ard Scoil na nDéise. It was the 5th Anniversary of the death of Sr. Rosario McNamara. It was made very special because on that day a lovely tribute was paid to her. As well as many generous tributes, a magnificent memorial was unveiled and blessed in her honour in the front Hall of Ard Scoil na nDéise. Sr. Angela our Local Leader explained that the origin of the memorial was inspired by her nieces and it was felt proper by the Sisters and the school to take up the idea and provide a suitable memorial for a Sister who had given so much to the school for over sixty years. This idea became a reality on the day.
Memorial in Sr. Rosario’s honour
The distinguished, lengthy and legendary career of Sr. Rosario, former Principal of the School, teacher for almost six decades and member of the Mercy community for seventy years, was recalled with reverence and love. Her kindly and fruitful service to the local community over those years was honoured in a fitting fashion.
Present were the Sisters of Mercy, many members of Sr. Rosario’s extended family, past and present teachers and past and present students of the School. Also present was Declan Sexton who designed and executed the magnificent wall-mounted plaque framed in delicately carved hardwood.
Pictured at the memorial to Sr. Rosario, late of the Convent of Mercy and Ard Scoil na nDeise are some of the Mercy Community who shared with Sr. Rosario over the years. From left: Sr. Alice Power, Sr. Veronica Mangan, Sr. Assumpta Byrne, Sr. Angela Kiely, Sr. Annunciata Walsh, Sr. Goretti Kelleher, Sr. Mary Flynn, Sr. Ann Hayes, Sr. Theresa Kearney, Sr. Colette Cullinan, Sr. Eileen Troy, Sr. Sinead Browne, Sr. Philomena Kelly & Sr. Marian Galvin (all of whom, except Sr. Veronica, were past pupils of the late Sr. Rosario)
Sr. Angela invited Mary Margaret Fahey on behalf of the family to unveil the beautiful memorial. To resounding applause, the image of Sr. Rosario and the beautifully presented citation were revealed to an admiring audience who instantly appreciated the magnificent work of art. Fr. Flor O’Callaghan OSA then blessed the memorial.
Sr. Rosario was born in 1918, entered the Mercy Dungarvan in 1937, taught in Colaiste Muire from 1945 and was Principal from 1946 until 1981. Her legacy to all her students can be summed up by her first School Motto “Luceat Lux Vesta”. Just as a lighthouse radiates its light to the whole world at sea she too empowered her pupils to “let their light shine”.
Many tributes were paid to her. Sr. Assumpta spoke on behalf of the Sisters and emphasised the huge esteem in which Sr. Rosario was held in the community, in the town and countryside and even beyond this country because of the many thousands of students whose lives she touched in so many ways. She said “she epitomised the Mercy charisma especially by her faith in Providence, her graceful presence, her gracious welcome and her wonderful hospitality”.
John Cunningham former teacher in the School spoke on behalf of the Teachers and said “she was a truly gifted teacher who used her gifts on behalf of other people. She was a true renaissance woman. She had a great love of Latin, Irish and literature and her knowledge of poetry and Shakespeare was almost encyclopaedic.” He mentioned that she told her students she never gave a reference because every day they spent in school they wrote their own reference.
Sr. Marie Stuart, who is Sr. Rosario’s niece, spoke on behalf of Sr. Rosario’s family. She said “her ability and capacity to remember the concerns each one of them shared with her was remarkable.” “I am reminded” she said “of TS Eliot who said “there will be time to prepare to meet the faces that you meet” and she thought that Sr. Rosario had “a heart to go with the face”. During her illness a few months before she died she spoke to Marie about how she had been and the difficulties she had. Next moment, she said “that is enough of that, take down a poetry book and we will read some poetry”. She said she recalled this many times since because she said “many times I have been alerted to the possibility of feeding my mind and spirit on poetry, instead of wallowing in one misery or another”.
Addressing the assembly on behalf of the many past pupils of the school, Mary (Connors) Hegarty said that in the year 1946, when she became one of the first Boarders and Students in Colaiste Muire, she and her companions “experienced a cultured and talented young nun, with spirituality, education, refinement and endowed with exceptional beauty. We marvelled at how someone so blessed was prepared to renounce so much and give all that beauty and talent back to the Lord. Hers was a great vocation and commitment. She was a strict disciplinarian but ruled with justice and love. Her teaching extended beyond half a century. Whole families and their descendants were educated by her and everyone loved her. She never raised her voice, there never seemed to be the need. Remarkably she was still in the classroom, teaching Religion up to the age of 86. Sr. Rosario was a pioneer in Secondary Level Education and her legacy is enormous, her energy and initiative legendary. Of her it can be said that she did the work of seven lifetimes.”
Left to Right: Sr. Loreto Bugler, Sr. Mary Hahesy, the late Sr. Rosario McNamara & Ms. Angela Conway (former Principal of Ard Scoil na nDeise)
Concluding, Sr. Angela invited everyone to the Convent Chapel for a Mass of Thanksgiving for the life of Sr. Rosario followed by refreshments. Sr. Angela delivered her own tribute during the Mass and quoting from the Reading from Ecclesiasticus “Let us praise illustrious men and women (and surely Sr. Rosario is counted among them). She has left a rich inheritance and peoples will proclaim her wisdom. Her good works will not be forgotten.” Sr. Angela was also one of the first Boarders to come to Colaiste Muire in 1946.
Beautiful music and song and reflection were a feature of the Mass. All present were very much touched by their experience of the day. All enjoyed refreshments after the Mass including chatting with many friends and relaying their memories of Sr. Rosario.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh h-anam dhilis
(May her gentle soul be at God’s right hand)
Angela Kiely rsm & Assumpta Byrne rsm
Southern Province
