Catherine McDonagh

Deceased Sisters

Catherine McDonagh - United Kingdom
14/06/1919 - 04/12/2017

Sister Catherine McDonagh, like many of our Irish Marist Sisters, was born in County Mayo, Ireland into a staunch Catholic family where the spiritual life was nurtured, alongside living and growing, punctuated by times of daily prayer and fidelity to Our Lady’s own prayer – the Rosary.

Sister Catherine enjoyed a long and ministry-filled life as a Marist Sister.

Received into the Novitiate in Paignton, South Devon in 1938, Sister Catherine made her first profession on 28^th October 1940. Following profession she was assigned to Ottery-Saint-Mary community where, as a student teacher for a number of years, she served until time came for a course of training. She enrolled on a two year Teacher Training Course (1946-1948) in Maria Assumpta Training College, Kensington London where she successfully attained her Teachers’ qualifications. She continued to minister in the Marist Junior School Paignton, was Headmistress there from 1954 to 1959 and from 1959 to 1963 shared her talents with the Marist Senior School Paignton where she taught Art very successfully.

This was a time when religious life was undergoing renewal and new projects were undertaken. When the Marist Sisters’ Leadership undertook expansion to other apostolates, Catherine was part of a project to minister in Spain in conjunction with the Marist Brothers in their School 1967-1971.

On her return from Spain, she continued in the ministry of education and served as Headmistress of the Marist Junior School Fulham from 1974-1978. In step with changes in the Church and greater involvement of religious in parish work, Sister Catherine joined our community in Swallownest, Yorkshire where she was engaged in Parish projects - for three years she contributed to Retreats, missions and vocation promotion. She continued her interest in Retreat ministry and became very actively involved in Parish Weeks of Guided Prayer in White City Parish and again sharing her artistic talent with the ladies of the Parish by guidance in floral arrangement.

It was during the 1990s also that Catherine, encouraged by our Marist Leadership, committed to follow a six-month course in preparation for ministry support of AIDS sufferers. She worked as a volunteer at the London Lighthouse 1994-1997 a centre providing residential and day care for men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS virus.

Again Sister Catherine felt the need of a break to take stock, renew her energies and think anew of the future. She followed a course at the Institute of St Anselm in Cliftonville, Kent.

Subsequently, Catherine was assigned to the Marist Sisters’ community in Lisle Street, Leicester Square to enable her involvement in ministry to the homeless where she organised teams of volunteers to distribute tea and sandwiches daily to the homeless at Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square. She also had the role of welcoming person in the Church of Notre Dame de France.

Following a short time in Lisle Street, she moved to Upper Holloway community continuing her ministry from there.

1999 saw Catherine back in the North of England - this time in Manchester community visiting the parish sick, lonely and housebound.

The years moved on and in 2005 Sister Catherine was back where she started in 1940 in Ottery-Saint-Mary community, this time as a retired community member.

By nature Sister Catherine was a physically active person with an equally active mind with many interests. A person of deep spirituality and prayer, she brought spiritual happiness and contentment to many through her guidance. Wherever she was involved, she worked with great commitment and interest and was very generous in sharing her gifts with others. After her transfer to Villa Maria in 2007, Sister Catherine continued to serve in the many small ways that present themselves

She was grateful for everything, was always happy to see Sisters from other communities and appreciated the care she received from her Sisters and dedicated carers of whom she spoke highly. Sister Catherine’s strength began to wane and as it deteriorated she could be heard coming along the corridor to the chapel with her walking aid at a measured pace.

She was confined to her room for a short time before it was obvious she was becoming much weaker and on 4^th December with Sisters and Carers with her Sister Catherine gently breathed her last returning to the eternal home she prepared for all her life.

Following Requiem Mass in Villa Maria on 12^th December, we laid Sister Catherine to rest in Hawkinge cemetery in the company of our many Sisters already enjoying their eternal rest.

May Sister Catherine’s soul now rest forever in God’s eternal peace.

Deceased Sisters

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