Visit to Mount St. Vincent’s of former residents

“A trip down memory lane“

During the month of February Phyllis Moynihan rsm received an email from Patrick Rawson who lives in the US requesting a visit to the Mount (Mount St. Vincent’s) for his mother and two aunts, Marie, Martha and Noreen (Cusack) sometime in March.  They had been raised in Mount St. Vincent’s orphanage in the 40’s following the death of their mother. Another aunt had also been raised there but had since died.  The three women were now in their 80’s and 90’s.  They had settled in the west coast of America as young women.

Marie, Noreen and Martha Cusack

In his email Patrick wished to thank the Sisters for the great care his mother and aunts received while in the Mount.  Sr. Victoire Fleming had corresponded with his mother over the years and she was a significant point of contact.  Patrick also requested that there would be a Mass celebrated as part of their visit to Limerick.  Initially a small group was expected but by March 15th, the day of the visit, the group had increased to 22.

A lot of preparation and planning went into ensuring that the visit of the Rawson/Cusack family would go smoothly on Friday afternoon, March 15th.  At 12.30 the group arrived by coach and they gathered in the grounds of Mount St. Vincent’s where they were welcomed by Phyllis.  They were given access to the Mount, the place of their childhood, courtesy of John Coady of Mary Immaculate College.  Wandering through this building, walking through a number of corridors and up and down various stairways was a journey down memory lane for each of the women.

A visit to the chapel was requested and they were delighted that it was possible.  The chapel is now used to house books belonging to Mary Immaculate College.  However, this did not prevent the group from walking and manoeuvering their way around the book stands and they were very excited when they arrived at the side chapel where they would have been seated when they attended Mass as children.  They got an even greater thrill when the door to the bell tower was opened and they availed of the opportunity to ring the bell one more time in their life time.  They got such fun out of this.  And the bell still works!

Great conversations, fun and laughter could be heard all around.  Childhood memories were recalled with great fondness, love and gratitude.  Another open door brought them to the convent section, a part of the building that was always denied to them as children.  Another moment of great excitement and adventure!  They discovered that the ‘nine steps’, the line of division between the convent and the orphanage were still there and they had not changed since their time in the Mount.  Over an hour had passed and reluctantly they bade farewell to the place of their childhood.

They then proceeded to the ‘new’ convent where the Sisters had gathered to meet and welcome them.  This was an emotional gathering for all concerned.  Everybody then processed to the chapel where Fr. Adrian Egan CSsR had been invited to celebrate the Eucharist.  At the beginning of Mass Sr. Nora Wall welcomed the family on behalf of the community.

Fr. Adrian Egan

The Eucharistic celebration was a truly wonderful and moving celebration and Fr. Adrian entered into the spirit and heart of the family.  He touched the hearts of all present.  He had an amazing capacity to enter into the story of their visit.  At the end of Mass Phyllis thanked the family for their visit and said that their visit was a transfiguration moment for the Sisters, in keeping with the gospel of the following Sunday.  Patrick Rawson had also requested that he would be given the opportunity to say a few words and he thanked the Sisters for rearing the ‘three best moms in the world’.

Following the Eucharist  the Sisters and family gathered for afternoon tea in the dining room.  This had been beautifully prepared by the staff.  This gathering was a time of meeting, recalling, sharing and revisiting old memories and stories from childhood.  It was also a great family reunion as they had not met as a group for some time.

Sr. Victoire presented a print of a photograph of the Mount to Marie, Noreen and Martha.  They were delighted with such a treasured gift.  The visit of the Cusack and extended family to the Mount was very significant and important for the family and it was equally significant and important for the Sisters attached to the Mount.  The visit was healing, calming and reassuring and in keeping with the gospel ‘it was good to be here’.  An article in relation to the visit of the family to Limerick featured in the local Limerick Leader and in it Marie stated, ‘I have to give credit to the nuns… my experience was very very good …. living with the Sisters was marvellous’.

Sr. Victoire Fleming with Martha Cusack

In an email from Patrick following the trip to Ireland, he said that the visit of the family to the Sisters in the Mount, and the Mass were the highlights of their trip to Ireland.

Phyllis Moynihan rsm 
South Central Province