Having completed my Post Primary education in St. Joseph’s, Convent of Mercy, Navan, Meath, I entered there in September 1958. I was eighteen years old and considered myself a mature adult, ready for all life’s challenges! This year, having celebrated my Diamond Jubilee, I still feel 18 years old, but with 66 years of experience!
Sr. Enda Egan
At that time the Sisters from Navan were already in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Daytona Beach, Florida. Monsignor Mortimer Danaher, a young charismatic priest from Limerick, had just built a school at San José Parish, Jacksonville and was keen to get Irish Sisters to staff it. He came to Navan to recruit! Sr. Therese Horan, Sr. de Montfort Tuite and I were chosen to begin this mission and in September 1961 we arrived, firstly at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent and were warmly welcomed there on our way to San José Parish.
Monsignor rented a house in a neighbourhood close to the school while a convent was being built. Our neighbours were not enthusiastic about our arrival. Dressed in our long black habits, they were convinced we were members of the Ku Klux Klan! The first morning as we prepared to leave for school, we discovered our neighbour facing our house with a gun drawn. It was a frightening experience. Then one evening as we returned from school, there was a Fire Truck at our neighbour’s house. Monsignor went to investigate and see if he could help. The husband had had a heart attack, his wife was in deep shock and Monsignor took her to the hospital. From then on, we were “Angels of Mercy” and were well looked after in the neighbourhood!
I taught First Grade, Music and Physical Education. We had some students from Cuba who had come to Florida during the crisis and who didn’t speak English. That was a big challenge but a great learning experience. The other children became the ‘teachers’ and soon the Cuban children were fluent English speakers and made great strides in learning.
During the summer months we attended Barry College in Miami. There were many Irish Sisters studying there and we formed deep and lasting friendships and shared our joys, hopes and fears. The Sisters from Enniskillen who were based in nearby Hialeah always invited the Irish Sisters for July 4th Independence Day cookout and this was a wonderful celebration filled with happiness and laughter.
1965 was the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Church in the United States. A 200-foot Cross was erected in the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine, where in 1565 America’s Catholic Faith began. Ireland’s William Cardinal Conway participated in the celebration highlighting the contribution of Ireland’s Priests and Sisters to the church in Florida. We were proud and happy to be there.
In 1991 Fr. Seamus O’Flynn was assigned Pastor of St. Anastasia Parish in St. Augustine and I volunteered to help. This was a new challenge but a very exciting time as we prepared to build a new Church with a seating capacity of 1,600. He invited me to be the Pastoral Associate, a position I accepted, and I continued in that role until 2010. This year we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the dedication of the church.
Since then, I have been a Chaplain at Flagler Hospital and the Bailey Hospice Centre while continuing to be involved in the Parish. At the Hospice I am blessed to be at the bedside of many patients in their final moments and to help families deal with their grief and often officiate at their funerals.
From Left to Right: Sr. Enda, Fr. Tim Lindenfelser and Sr. Anne Halpin
2021 was my Diamond Jubilee. Due to COVID, celebrations were deferred to 2024! Sr. Anne Halpin, a Dominican Sister, who also works at St. Anastasia was celebrating 65 years so the Pastor, Fr. Tim Lindenfelser, decided to have a joint celebration on January 27th, 2024 after the 4 pm Mass. This was even more special since it was my birthday and so it was a very happy occasion.
As I reflect on the past 60/66 years, I am humbled and honoured to be a Sister of Mercy and to have had the opportunity to touch the lives of so many people here in Florida. Asked recently would I change anything if I had the opportunity and I was happy to say, “Not a thing”!
Left to Right: Tom Alexander, Sr. Enda and Margie Alexander
God has blessed me with many gifts and talents for which I am grateful and with his help I will continue to do His work for the rest of my life.
Deo Gratias
Enda Egan rsm
US Region