Many thanks to Peter Kinsella who kindly sent in this photograph and article to share with the parish..
This photograph was taken in Liverpool recently, when the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur celebrated the founding of their order in Belgium in 1819. It is well known that in 1896, five of the Sisters arrived in Bishop’s Stortford and established what is now St. Mary’s Catholic School
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool led a con-celebrated Mass at St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Knotty Ash (yes, the place made famous by Ken Dodd!) and celebrations continued in the parish centre and at the iconic Adelphi Hotel.
Pictured are Sarah Kinsella, Peter Coldwell, Head of St. Joseph’s School, Ann Cassidy-Jones, Deputy Head of St, Joseph’s (and a relative of Archbishop McMahon), Archbishop Malcolm , Peter Kinsella and Sister Judith Russi, who many will remember from her days at 3, Windhill, when she and Sarah put on the parish musicals. Sister Judith is now Director of EducareM, which supports Catholic education and leadership in the UK.
St. Mary’s School was represented by Deputy Head, Deirdre McHugh.
The banners of both St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Schools were displayed on the sanctuary for the celebration Mass.
A surprise for us was that Sarah’s setting of the motto of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur “O, Lord, my God, in the simplicity of my heart, it is with joy that I offer all” (from 1 Corinthians) was sung by the choir at the Mass.