Irish Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes

Máire took the opportunity to speak about the late Sr Mary Patrick, a great friend of Irish Hospitaliers for so many years

Mary Callanan was born in Woodford, Co. Galway on July 21st, 1929. Her father was the local blacksmith. She was the eldest of eight children. There were many vocations to the religious life in the Woodford area – 2 people entered, from many houses. (The area was also a wonderful place for traditional music). Back then nuns priests and brothers visited national schools promoting the religious life. Some pupils went as boarders to the various orders and then decided their future after the Leaving Certificate. Mary went with an order based in France and a year later her sister Peggy joined her. They were allowed 2 hours together on a Sunday afternoon when they could speak English. It happened that the order closed down due to the lack of vocations. The nuns were sent to various convents; the Callanans went to the Sisters of Charity Nevers. Their mother made her way to Nevers on her own for their final profession.