On Sunday 21 July a special Mass was held to celebrate 60 years of service by Sr Angela Moroney and Sr Margarita Cunningham to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Our Lady of the Holy Souls Parish, Kensal New Town.

The concelebrated Mass was presided over by Bishop Jim Curry, who commented upon the remarkable 100 year plus history of the Sisters of Mercy in the Parish.  He paid tribute to Sr Angela and Sr Margarita, as former Head Teachers of St Mary’s, for their work educating generations of families since their arrival in the Parish in 1964.

In a packed Church, a letter of congratulations was read out from Cardinal Vincent Nichols, as well as messages from His Majesty the King and the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

Over 40 of the Sisters’ families had travelled from Ireland and elsewhere to surprise them at the celebrations.  The party continued in the School Hall with food, music, poetry, dancing and many happy reminiscences from past and present pupils, Fr Shaun, a previous parish priest and Sister Bernadette, a previous headteacher.  Good wishes were also sent by video from Bishop Fintan Monahan of the Diocese of Killaloe, the Diocese in which they were born and a well-known Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell.

Fr Damian Ryan, our parish priest, said ‘Sr Angela and Sr Margarita have been the doors of faith to countless numbers in this Parish and we love them for it’.

Sr Margarita and Sr Angela both said they were humbled by such appreciation from so many.

Written by a Parishioner and originally on Westminster Diocesan Website.