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It was in County Clare that the Columban Sisters began in 1922.   Down through the years many Clare young women have joined the congregation and are now scattered on mission throughout the world.  Pictured here are those who attended the Event in the Motherhouse to celebrate 80 years of mission service.

From July 19 - 22, 2004 almost 90 Columban Sisters came together in Magheramore, Wicklow, Ireland to share, reflect, celebrate and give thanks for 80 years of life as a congregation.   

Days before the Event the Sisters began arriving in Magheramore.  Meetings and greetings became the order of the day - some Sisters had not met for almost 50 years!
 

Part of the first day was spent in memory lane, each one tracing and sharing her journey since she became a Columban Sister; her part in the composite journey of the congregation.  Then a representative from each mission Area gave an up to date account of the growth and development in the Area.  This was a panorama of the present day reality across the congregation.  This evoked the question:  'What is all we have just heard and experienced saying about the Columban Sisters now,  eighty years on.

Fr. Tom Grenham,SPS, Kiltegan spent the second day with us. He brought us through the move from the notion of Inculturation, which was familiar to most of us, to day's insights regarding interculturation. 

'The concept of interculturation envisions that we view 'truth' as a shared reality in the midst of pluralism and diversity' and  'we see Christian evangelization as mutual partnership rather that a one-sided undertaking'.

The final day was congregational birthday celebration day.  Father Cyril Lovett was celebrant of the Mass which included time for tracing our history through movement, readings, repentance and thanksgiving.  We looked towards the future, articulating our hopes for next year’s Chapter, prayed for all our living members and honoured the memory of our deceased Sisters.  Finally we enjoyed a festive lunch after which we celebrated our interculturality as a Congregation through presentations from the different nations from which our members have come. 
Within a couple of hours many of those who had come for the Event were on their way again to different destinations, thus highlighting for us once more the nature and purpose of our missionary Congregation.     

To contact the Columban Sisters,
E-mail:

columbansisters@eircom.net