Irish Sisters bring faith and compassion to margins of society in mission

By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS

In some of the world's most remote and challenging communities, where government services and humanitarian organizations have struggled to remain, Irish religious sisters continue to offer education, healthcare, and hope to vulnerable populations.

Their remarkable experiences are captured in Lives of Mission, Lives of Hope!, a short film produced by Colm Flynn on commission from the Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

A mission rooted in faith, courage, and service

Through the testimonies of four religious sisters, the film offers an intimate account of missionary life, revealing the sacrifices, challenges, and profound fulfillment that come with answering God's call to serve others.

Sr. Colette Keane, OP (Order of Preachers), reflects on a lifetime dedicated to teaching, mission work, and establishing schools. Her journey in Liberia was marked by a violent attack in which she was beaten, sustaining serious injuries to one eye and one ear. Yet the experience did not weaken her commitment.

"I was never discouraged," she recalls, convinced that she was doing what she had been called to do. Despite the suffering, she remembers finding what she had sought through her missionary vocation.

Sr. Pat Murray, CJ {"@context": "http://schema.org","@type": "ImageObject","contentUrl": "https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2022/05/23/853384A9-E77C-4B50-A55F-A42066A64FD9.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg","creditText": "Vatican News","height": "750","width": "422"} Transforming lives through compassion and empowerment

For Sr. Julie Buckley, SMR (Sisters of Mary Reparatrix), the journey towards religious life began after years away from religious practice. An invitation to attend Mass in the 1980s renewed her relationship with the Gospel, eventually leading her to consecrated life. Her background as a midwife also strengthened her desire to serve others.

Today, in La Ensenada, one of Lima's poorest neighborhoods, her congregation runs Casa Betania, supporting families, particularly mothers and young people who have left the education system. Through education and community activities, women are encouraged to recognize their abilities and build confidence. For Sister Julie, mission remains an adventure of faith and discovery.

Sr. Pat Murray, CJ (Congregation of Jesus), discovered her vocation at just 12 years old. Her missionary experiences have taken her to several countries, including war-torn South Sudan, where she learned the importance of listening to communities affected by conflict. Recalling bullet marks on a church crucifix, she describes how listening to people's suffering became central to her ministry.

Her encounters across cultures have taught her the importance of respecting differences and embracing the universality of the Church. Reflecting on the sacrifices of religious life, she speaks with warmth about motherhood, although she never had children of her own, she hopes to have thousands through the lives she has touched.

From Africa to the universal mission of the Church

Sr. Mary Barron, OLA, recalls feeling drawn to Africa from an early age. Her first assignment in Lagos, Nigeria, was a cultural shock, but her training as a speech and language therapist soon became an important instrument of service to children with communication difficulties.

In 1995, she moved to rural Tanzania, where communities faced severe poverty and lacked basic services such as electricity and running water. Working in the Diocese of Shinyanga, she established women's groups across all 35 villages, encouraging women to recognize their worth and develop their potential. "The fundamental thing was to help people understand that they have value," she explains.

Her experiences also taught her the importance of learning from the people she served. Today, she sees missionary work continuing in Europe through initiatives supporting migrants and promoting integration in multicultural communities.

Lives of Mission, Lives of Hope!, a short film produced by Colm Flynn on commission from the Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See

The film also looks towards a new chapter in her missionary journey. Sr. Mary Teresa Barron, Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, with responsibility as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies. She is due to assume her new responsibilities on 4 January 2027.

Ultimately, Lives of Mission, Lives of Hope! is a reminder that missionary service is not simply about travelling to distant lands but about recognising the dignity of every person and responding with love, courage, and compassion. Through their lives, these sisters demonstrate that faith becomes most meaningful when it is translated into service, solidarity, and hope.