With Gratitude and in Hope

On the afternoon of 20th March, 2023, Srs. de Montfort Blanchfield, Rosarii Hahesy, Elizabeth Breen and Eucharia Brereton gathered in the Oratory to pray a moving and emotional good-bye to one another and to a place they had grown to love and value over the years.  They were accompanied by Julianne Sullivan, Patricia Walshe, Frances Kennedy, and Ella McGuinness.

The Prayer Booklet displayed the garden in all its glory and introduced the apt theme ‘With Gratitude and In Hope’.  The following is a brief sketch of our prayerful musings on that poignant gathering.

The Prayer began by entering into communion with departed family and community members who had journeyed with us and shaped our story.  The lighting candles symbolised their spiritual presence with us.  I líonta Dé go gcastar sinn!  The words of the hymn ‘Companions on the Journey’ summed up the loving, caring, sharing, gifting of the years lived together.  As we looked at each Sister we prayed in the words of St. Paul “I thank my God for you every time I think of you; and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy”.                                                                                           

We sought mercy and forgiveness in Psalm 51 and we prayed: “amid the joys and struggles of our journey we have been companioned by a graceful presence that has held us together and led us on”.

With that reassuring knowledge of God’s loving kindness, we looked to the future surrounded in mystery, in expectation and in apprehension while Julianne read the beautiful prayer of St. Paul to the Ephesians 3:14-21.  It was as if St. Paul was addressing each of us personally.  We were further strengthened as we heard the voice of God speaking through the Prophet Ezekiel “I shall be a true shepherd to them [all]”.  With courage, we prayed: We are confident the Will of God will never lead us where the Grace of God cannot keep us.

After a blessing and the comforting words of The Suscipe, each Sister was presented with a gift and assured of the prayerful good wishes of the Wexford Cluster.

de Montfort, Rosarii, Elizabeth, Eucharia, may God bless you and take care of you; may God be kind and gracious to you; may God look on you with favour and give you peace.  Amen.

We wish de Montfort, Rosarii and Betty every blessing as you move from New Ross and Eucharia as you continue to live and minister in New Ross.

Ella McGuinness rsm
Southern Province