Sister Anna Mc Donagh (Mary of the Sacred Heart)
Anna was born on March 23rd, 1938 and was Baptised on the same day in the parish church of the Sacred Heart. She was the eldest of eight children born to Margaret and James Mc Donagh – a family whose faith was deeply rooted in the ‘Faith of our Fathers’. Anna’s early education took place at the local Primary School and later in St. Mary’s, New Ross, Secondary School.
Anna was extremely interested in sport and so, when her school formed a new Camogie team, she was delighted to join and was soon recognised as a skilful player. So much so that she was chosen to be part of the senior team at the age of fourteen. This team went on to win the Championship and Anna cherished the ‘lovely silver medal’ she was awarded!
At the age of sixteen Anna moved on to the Technical College in Adamstown and it was here that she met Sr. M Camillus Finn and another RNDM who were visiting the college. Obviously, enthused by what they heard; two girls decided to go to Hastings to the Juniorate. Anna was one of them! There was no holding her back once she heard the Lord’s call, though this must have been a difficult choice for her since she was the eldest of a family of eight!
Anna spent just one year in the Juniorate and was then admitted to the Novitiate and given the name, Sr. Mary of the Sacred Heart. After Profession she went to teach in Deal and in Hastings. Then it was off to Mary Ward College, Nottingham to train as a Secondary School teacher, specialising in Home Economics and textile science.
Then began a very varied and chequered apostolate for her but wherever she went she brought with her enthusiasm, humour, creativity, a deep love for her faith and a burning desire to pass it on to the young people she ministered to.
Wherever she was missioned, be it in St. Thomas More Secondary school, Bristol where she taught for sixteen happy years, retreat work in Kintbury, youth Chaplaincy work in Kilmarnock, Scotland and in Chew Magna and supply teaching in St. Bernadette’s Whitchurch, she made a lasting impression on all whose path of life she crossed.
Anna was foremost a woman of prayer and during her long career she availed herself of many spiritual courses to deepen and cultivate her own relationship with the Lord. It was to do a course in Theology and Spirituality in Milltown that she finally returned to Ireland. She was happy to return at this time because her mother was now ageing and needed full time care.
When her mother died in 2000, Anna became involved in School Retreats and other programmes in the Diocese of Wexford. When the post of Director of Religious Education for Post primary schools became vacant in the diocese in 2006, Anna was urged to go for the interview by Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Bishop of Ferns. With her wealth of experience, she was successful! She embraced this important challenge with characteristic generosity and dedication. The new post demanded much travel so Anna became a familiar figure around Wexford and in Pineridge where she now lived.
In April 2019 Anna had a fall in her Pineridge home that necessitated her joining the Churchtown Community where she would enjoy the companionship of the sisters and receive any care that she might need. However, just one year later Anna suffered another fall in her bedroom and was taken to St. James’ Hospital where she stayed for some months. When it became apparent that Anna now needed twenty-four-hour nursing care, she moved to Orwell Care Facility and settled in well, grateful for the intensive care she was now receiving.
Anna’s death came as a shock to us all for she died peacefully in her sleep at 2.00a.m. on Thursday, October 15th2020 when no one expected it. May she rest in peace, in union with the Lord whom she had loved and served faithfully for 62 years.
The Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Mary’s, Cushinstown, Wexford by Fr. Sean Devereux and Anna was laid to rest with her Mother and Father in the adjoining cemetery.
Speaking about Anna, Fr. Sean paid this tribute to her, ‘Anna had Christ, the laughing Christ, at the centre of her life. She was present to people, she loved them and made them feel happier for having known her. The gifts she has left behind are laughter, love and kindness. Anna believed in and lived the Gospel.’
May she now rest in Eternal peace for, as we read in the Apocalypse,
‘Happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit says; now they can rest for ever after their work, for their good deeds go with them.