On 3 August, the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary celebrated the centenary of its founding by Bishop Joseph Shanahan on 7 March 1924. Bishop Shanahan, originally from Cavan was first Bishop of the Diocese of Onitsha, Nigeria, in 1920. This celebration took place in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Felim, Co Cavan in the Diocese of Kilmore, where Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore was the chief celebrant for the centenary Mass.
Along with Bishop Hayes, clergy in attendance included, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel and Emly; Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam,; Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Bishop Emeritus of Kilmore and priests from across the island of Ireland. The celebration was further graced by the presence of Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha, Nigeria, along with clergy and religious who traveled from abroad to join in the celebrations.
The Cathedral witnessed synodality at its best! Unity in diversity was evident from the altar to the choir and throughout the congregation. The Mass servers, a vibrant group of young girls and boys from diverse backgrounds, embodied this celebration beautifully. The choir featured the Missionary Sisters, representing all 15 countries where they serve, along with members of the local Cathedral choir.
In his homily, Bishop Hayes traced the origins of the Missionary Sisters, starting with Bishop Shanahan and extending to the current work of the sisters globally. Bishop Hayes highlighted how the sisters continue to live and work among the poorest communities, offering hope through education, community development, health services, and addressing other emerging needs.
In his address, Archbishop Okeke expressed deep gratitude to the people of Ireland, particularly for sending Bishop Shanahan, an extraordinary priest and missionary. He acknowledged how Bishop Shanahan’s remarkable work has continued through his spiritual “daughters,” the Missionary Sisters. To encourage them, Archbishop Okeke prayed that each of the sisters would receive a double share of Bishop Shanahan’s spirit.
Echoing this sentiment, Sister Franca Onyibor, the congregational leader of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, concluded her speech by sounding the gong – a traditional instrument used by town criers in many African communities – to mark the beginning of a new century in the life of a congregation. In her address Sister Onyibor said, “May this symbolise that the congregation will blossom and extend to every corner of the earth, just as Bishop Shanahan prayed a hundred years ago when he said, ‘May the Holy Rosary Sisters be the great missionaries God wishes them to be.'”
ENDS
CatholicNews.ie wishes to acknowledge Sister Bernadette Nyam, the author of the above article, and photographer John McElroy.
