Sr Maureen OP, Centenarian and Jubilarian!

On Thursday 10th May, 2018, in St. Mary’s Dominican Convent, Dún Laoghaire, Sr Maureen celebrated her 100th birthday with her community, family and friends. She also celebrates 80 years of professed Dominican life and 82 years as a Dominican Sister this year! Deo gratias!

The Church of The Three Patrons stands majestically on Rathgar Road, Dublin 6. My home was five minutes away on Kenilworth Square. On a sunny June morning, a long time ago, I can remember skipping along the side of the square with my twin sister, Eileen, in our short while dresses to make our First Holy Communion. It was at the 9 o’clock family Mass, so my mother and other members of the family were there. After receiving Jesus I whispered to him that I wanted to be a nun!

As the years passed by, the idea dimmed and almost faded away until my last year in school in Dominican College Wicklow when I realised afresh that God was calling me to follow Him. I spoke to Mother Joseph Magdalen, or JM as she was familiarly called, who almost jumped for joy! So in the October of that year 1936, and the Feast of the Holy Rosary, I left home for Cabra to join the Dominican Family and I have never regretted taking that momentous step.

Sr. Maureen Mac Mahon OP