Earlier this month, the Cork Three Faiths Forum gathered to bid farewell to Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, former Provincial leader of OLA Ireland and one of the forum’s founding members. This moment of connection reflected the spirit Sr Kathleen has helped to cultivate over the years. Her departure marks the end of an era, and the event was a genuine celebration of the relationships that have flourished within the community over the years.
The Cork Three Faiths Forum, or 3FF, brings together people from the Abrahamic Faiths – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – not out of obligation but out of a shared belief in dialogue and peace. Sr Kathleen’s farewell gathering reflected this belief, with the warmth of conversation, laughter and shared memories.
The food told its own story. Daal chawal, pakoras, naan, parathas, butter chicken—dishes that travelled from kitchens far from Cork—sat comfortably alongside mint cheesecake and apple pie; each dish symbolising the diversity that Sr Kathleen has always championed. It was a fitting way to honour someone who has dedicated herself to bridging divides and building something lasting.
This was a gathering of people who are committed to making dialogue a lived experience rather than an abstract ideal. The conversations were joyful, real and grounded, offering a glimpse of what is possible when people come together with open minds and open hearts. These values are at the core of what the Cork Three Faiths Forum stands for—creating spaces where differences are not just tolerated but celebrated.
As Sr. Kathleen moves on to her next mission calling, she leaves behind a community that is stronger due to the collective efforts of this group of individuals. Her work has helped shape the Cork Three Faiths Forum into what it is today: a place where faith is a bridge rather than a barrier. While her departure is bittersweet, the forum sent her off with the same energy she brought to them—cheer, joy, and a sense of purpose that will continue to guide them. Her next chapter is just beginning, but her impact here in Cork will be felt for a long time.
