Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 21 August 2008 |
Following 49 years of service Sister of Mercy Margaret Quinn is returning home to Ireland. (Citizen photo by Brent Braaten)
Sister Margaret Quinn is the last remaining member of 46 Sisters of Mercy who served and ministered since 1957 in the Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Prince George areas.
"I'm the last of the Mohicans," said Sister Margaret, who has served in Prince George for 49 years as school teacher, principal and director of the Rainbows Program.
Like the other sisters, she was brought to northern B.C. in 1959 by the late Bishop Fergus O'Grady who had a gift for recruiting nuns and priests to work in Catholic schools and parishes in his huge diocese for opportunities to serve others and experience Canada, rather than for the small stipend or salary issued.
Sister Margaret, Sister Stanislaus and Sister Mercy were recruited to open St. Mary's elementary school in Prince George in 1959, but ended up teaching in Fort St. James and Vanderhoof until the Prince George school was ready the next year.
When she boards the plane Sept. 6, it will be with mixed feelings since she's learned to love Canada during her 49-year stay.
"It's hard to tear myself away. It's been a rewarding and invigorating kind of life here in Canada, which amazed me by its wide spaces and the openness of the people. To be so accepted, supported and befriended by the people here has truly been a blessing," she said.
"I loved the school, the children and was always happy in my job despite challenges and ups and downs," she said.
At St. Mary's, Sister Margaret served as a teacher followed by 19 years as principal before becoming full-time director of the Rainbows Program in 1996.
As principal she said she soon became aware of the difficulties children underwent during family crises like separation and divorce.
"Many children needed help. They were getting into trouble and their grades were going down," she said.
While searching for a way to help them, she learned about Rainbows, a grief support program for children experiencing loss. Learning of its success, she took the training in Nanaimo and launched the program here in 1995 with support of independent schools and the church.
"Now, 13 years later, Rainbows has four directors and volunteers working with children in almost every community in the diocese, and I'm leaving it in good hands of Ursula Morris," co-director of the program.
Sister Margaret was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and underwent a 20-month series of chemotherapy treatments along with a mastectomy.
"The care I received at PGRH cancer clinic was second to none. Now that it's finished, I look at it as a positive experience and I never doubted that I would be OK. I believe that everything that happens is OK and it's as it should be, even if it looks negative at the time."
She's going home to the Callan, County Kilkenny community of sisters where she'll be reunited with sisters she worked and lived with in this area, as well as being near her own family. She's taking with her a bright red Canadian Olympic shoulder bag she intends to wear proudly during the summer games in London in 2012.
When asked if she will be retiring, she said that word never really comes into the picture. "Everybody keeps busy doing something," she said.
An appreciation banquet to recognize the more than 600 total work years served in northern B.C. by the Sisters of Mercy and to say farewell to Sister Margaret will be held just prior to her departure. The event is already sold out.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 August 2008 )
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