Solemn Profession of Sr Mary Reidy ocso

Today, the Feast of the Annunciation was a day of added rejoicing for the community at St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn as we celebrated the Solemn Monastic Profession of Sister Mary Reidy ocso.

Sister Mary joined us in 2007 from her former apostolic congregation the Daughters of Jesus in Great Britain where her ministry was in the field of nursing. Later she trained as a spiritual director and spent many years serving at St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Wales.

In his homily before Sister Mary’s consecration, Dom Augustine McGregor, Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey in Capoquin, spoke of the need we have to focus “not on ourselves, but on the Lord, as we learn to respond to his call that each one of us hears deep within” and it is in this way that we will discover true happiness, in doing God’s will, not on concentrating on “what makes me happy”.

We join Sister Mary in joyfully renewing our own commitment to the Lord on this special feast day and pray God’s manifold blessings on her as she continues her monastic journey as a Solemnly Professed member of this community.

Blessings to all on this feast of the Annunciation.

“I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your Word.”

Deo Gratias!

Photo: Dom Augustine with Sister Mary after her solemn profession in the Abbey Church, Glencairn.