RIP Sr. Catherine Buckley
Sr. Catherine, who gave many years of missionary service in Ghana, was called home to God on Thursday, March 2nd. Below are some thoughts shared by Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, OLA Provincial Leader, at Sr. Catherine's funeral. May she rest in peace.
Sr. Catherine Buckley, RIP.
1925-2017
Good afternoon and welcome. We are gathered here today to thank God for the long and fruitful life of Sr. Catherine Buckley, our Sister, our aunt and our friend, and to bid her farewell. We entrust her to God as she goes to her final resting place to join her parents David and Ellen, her sister, Sr. Mary Vincent, her nephew Padraig and the other deceased members of her family, friends and OLA Sisters. A special word of welcome today to Sr. Catherine’s sisters Peig and Norah. We send special condolences to her sister, Sr. Elizabeth Agnes, who is in Texas and sadly cannot be with us here today but no doubt is with us in mind and spirit. Welcome to all Sr. Catherine’s nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces/ nephews, relatives, in-laws, and the many other friends who are gathered here from near and far. Failte to all the OLA Sisters, especially those who have come from other communities in Ireland and to the SMA Fathers who, as always, are here to celebrate with us.
Born in Derrynagasha, Kinsale in June 1925, Sr. Catherine was one of five girls. Following her education in Innishannon National School and the Convent of Mercy, Kinsale, she entered Ardfoyle in February 1944 and made her First Profession of Vows on 8th September, 1946. Her interest in teaching took her to Coloma College, London where she obtained her Teacher’s Certificate in 1953. That same year Catherine arrived in Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast) on 6th October.
For the next 18 years Sr. Catherine taught in the OLA Schools at Sekondi, Asikuma, Keta, OLA and St. Mary’s Primary School, (both in Cape Coast). Sr. Evangelist, as she was then known, did not confine her interests to the classroom and boarding house. The old and the sick and the lonely were quietly sought out and visited. Children and many adults were prepared for baptism and the other sacraments. Without doubt Sr. Catherine, a faithful member of the Pioneers also promoted the Pioneer Movement among students, seminarians and all whom she met.
In 1971 Sr. Catherine came back to Ireland to study Catechetics at the Catechetical Institute in Dundalk. She returned to OLA Teacher Training College, Cape Coast in January 1973 and also became coordinator of Catechetics for the Archdiocese. As a member of the National Catechetical Commission she was one of the architects of the very successful catechetical programme and earliest contributors to the new catechetical textbooks and teachers’ handbooks. That same year she joined the staff of St. Peter’s Seminary, Pedu where for the next 12 years she directed the programme in Catechetics for Ghana’s future priests who as they said found her to be a good teacher…disciplined and dedicated.
In 1985 Catherine came back to Ireland for a well-earned sabbatical after which she returned to her post as teacher of religion in OLA Teacher Training College in 1986. Two years later she was transferred to Elmina where she spent eight years in charge of the OLA Community. She endeared herself to hundreds of young children in the Elmina Boarding School to whom she was a real mother, in what was truly a home from home. She also knew their families. At the same time on a daily basis, accompanied by one of the young Ghanaian Sisters in her Community or by pupils in the school, she visited the sick and especially the aged and lonely of whom there were so many in Elmina. She shared with them what she could, and they readily testified that her greatest gift was her joyful, prayerful, caring presence.
January 1996 brought Sr. Catherine to OLA Convent, West Green, London where she was always most welcoming, pleasant and hospitable and a wonderful cook. Although a quiet person, she visited people in their homes and the hospital, sitting, talking with them and listening to their joys and sorrows and was deeply appreciated by them. At times she assisted in the Presbytery as receptionist. Her ministry in London ended in 2004 when Catherine was transferred to Ardfoyle.
Sincere thanks to the Sisters and Staff in the Infirmary who have given such loving care and attention to Sr. Catherine during recent years. I also wish to acknowledge and appreciate the attentive love and concern shown daily by Sr. Katherine Donovan, the members of the House Council and all the Sisters in Ardfoyle who together make this house such a welcoming and caring home.
To Sr. Catherine’s family, many of whom we have met and known over the years, thank you for having supported her during her missionary life and for being faithful to her until the end. May God console you all at this time of loss.
Thanks to the SMA Fathers for your friendship and for always being there with us in our times of need.
I now hand over to Fr. Tim Cullinane to lead us in our Eucharist as we entrust Sr. Catherine into God’s loving hands.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh.
- Kathleen McGarvey, OLA
Provincial Leader
