|
Sister Joan Sawyer Is Remembered |
||
|
Sister Joan Sawyer, from Belfast, Ireland, was killed with seven prisoner at Lurigancho Prison, Lima Peru, on the afternoon of December 14, 1983. Sister Joan, along with her three co-workers, had been taken hostage by the prisoners who were struggling to obtain justice and more humane living conditions. The authorities responded with machine-gun fire. Sister Joan is still remembered for the courage, kindness and compassion shown in her ministry among and for the prisoners. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before the Mass started Sister Mary Nolan welcomed those present. She gave special mention to Fr. Peter Hughes, SSC, the main celebrant, who was Director of the Columban Fathers when Joan died and to all the priests and sisters who helped at that time. She gave a warm recognition to two Marist sisters present – Ana and Pedra - who were among the hostages on that day. “Joan” she said “ was just an ordinary person who was faithful in small things and whom God called to be a martyr.” She said that Joan started her work in the prison of Lurigancho on Holy Thursday, a symbolic day of giving for her. She also told how, on her last journey in the ambulance, Joan shared a sandwich she had with two prisoners beside her. Sharing and sacrifice were very much a part of Joan´s life. In his homily, Fr. Peter reminded those present that times were very violent when Sister Joan died. Shining Path terrorism was always in the news and there were great security measures in force. But, in spite of all that, the priests, sisters and a multitude of lay people were not afraid to carry Joan´s coffin in public 14 kilometers from the Church in Independencia to the cemetery in El Angel at the other side of the city. The police just stood, gazed and did nothing as the funeral passed. Sister Joan´s ring, the blood-stained bag she wore on her shoulders on the day that she was killed and the agenda she kept of her work in the prison were among the Offertory gifts carried to the altar. |
||
|
|
||
|
After Communion, “ huayno” music and dance expressed the joy of all those present, the joy of a people, many of whom were displaced from their homes in the mountains by the terrorist movement and had started their lives again in Lima knowing that Hope cannot be extinguished. The people recalled again all that the Columban missionaries had done to build up their communities and presented a framed picture of Sister Joan as a token of gratitude. |
||
|
|
||
|
At the end of Mass Sister Eileen Rabbitte thanked all those who attended the ceremony and ended saying: "I offer special thanks to Fr. Edgar and to Sister Mary Mulcahy, who organized the event and gave a warm welcome to everybody; a special word of thanks, too, to our Columban brothers who were such a stand-by when Joan died and also to Sr. Millie McNamara who was a tower of strength when so badly needed". Refreshments were served to all as a memorable afternoon came to an end. |
||
|
On Monday, December 15, there was a special Mass at the prison in Luriganchofor for Sister Joan and the prisoners who died there. It was organized by Ana Marzola and the chaplains. The Columban Sisters attended along with a few hundred of the inmates who are serving sentences there. The sisters were afterwards shown around the area where Joan worked. |
||
|
To
contact the Columban Sisters in Peru,
|
||
