Sister Rose Prenter (Clara of Assisi)
Rose, born 7th February 1921, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the fourth child of a family of five. Her parents, Charles and Rose Prenter, were hard working and an example of Christian living as they nurtured their family with love as well as providing care and support to neighbours during struggle, troubles, and conflict in the area. Rose was educated at St Patrick’s Girls School in Falls Road, Belfast. She enjoyed sport, games, and dancing. At an early age she joined the Legion of Mary and the Girl Guides in the Parish. Even at this early stage, Rose was involved with creative groups in the area and produced needlework, knitting, and crocheting to help others in their support of the missions. With her responsible involvement, cheerful and pleasant personality she was chosen as a representative in a non-Catholic part of Belfast, an unusual move in the area at that time.
When Rose left school, she started work in a handkerchief factory and as it was war time the making of Army uniforms took precedence. Soon she was offered an Assistance job in a larger plant. Her cheerful manner, hard work, and reliability, observed by her boss, was rewarded by yet another step up with promotion. However, she soon had an interested in nursing and wanted to help when she experienced bombing in the city where many of her friends and neighbours were killed and/or became ill. Despite the dangers, she was active on the streets helping as much as she could. To her great disappointment training for nursing was discouraged by her father. However, on reflection Rose realized that God had other designs for her life. Surprisingly she was given “The Message”, the booklet produced by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. As she said, “This certainly proved to be a sign from Heaven.” Nothing daunting Rose sought permission from her parents to explore entering Religious Life and to her delight discovered that many young women from the Diocese had joined the Sisters in Limavady and Hastings. Having previously enquired and explored possibilities with the Cross and Passion Sisters, the RNDM missionary life and spirit spoke to her heart, and she knew deep within she was called by God to become an RNDM. After further consultations and conversations, Rose was admitted to the Postulancy in Hastings in 1942 at the age of twenty-one. With her experience of life in a troubled and war-torn area she was open and eager to wholeheartedly commit herself to God in an International Missionary Congregation with a desire to help others, particularly those most in need.
After study and pre teaching experience, Rose felt honoured to have her Teacher Training at Notre Dame College, Liverpool. To quote her words: “To have studied at the same college as Euphrasie Barbier was one of my greatest delights.” She later followed a two-year training at Gordan Hill Glasgow and in 1973 attained a Diploma from Chester College which enabled her to work with children with special needs. Rose had a gentle approach in dealing with children and was always anxious to bring the best out of them. She taught in Wealdstone, Scotland, Sturry, Bristol, and in Kenya for many years. She engaged in parish ministry in Belfast, Eastbourne and Sturry and in prison work in Downend Bristol. She facilitated and encouraged RNDM Associates. Rose had a gift with people and community building was dear to her heart. Her gentle, compassionate, sense of humour and caring personality endeared her to all those she had connect with. She was homemaker in the new foundation in Falls Road, helped with the closing of Easton in Bristol. Her resourcefulness, giftedness and skills and her interest in what was happening around her and throughout the global world was uplifting and enriching.
In 1977, Rose was happy when her desire for mission abroad was realized. In Kenya she taught in the seminary in Ruaraka and the school in Kabaa. She worked in Machakos Diocese as Religious Education Advisor and successfully set up REAP for training and support for Principals of schools. Alongside teaching she took responsibility for finances and continued to be involved in pastoral ministry. Before departing from Kenya in 1991, to her delight, she spent a month in North Horr, the culmination of twelve contented, fulfilled, and fruitful years in Kenya.
During the latter years Rose kept herself active, visiting the elderly and contributing to pastoral ministry in the Parish in Sturry . In 2015 she agreed to move to St Anne’s community where she received the necessary care and help from the caring staff. She brought enjoyment to all there with her sense of humour and pleasant disposition. She loved her cup of tea and chat! Rose was a determined woman to the end. We thank God for her 102 years of a faithful, happy life and for her example of humility, simplicity, and self-giving in the spirit of Mary. She was reluctant to leave us towards the end and God took her home on 19th April. Rose, you will be missed.
May 12th, St Anne’s and Euphrasie Communities, Sr Catherine Corrigan, Province Leader, Rose Mary Harbinson from Wealdstone, Sisters from Beech Court, members of Rose’s family and Rosemary Weston Manger in St Anne’s, with many following online, gathered for the celebration of a Thanksgiving Mass, for a life well lived, celebrated by Canon Anthony Charlton from St Thomas’s in Canterbury. Rose was laid to rest in the cemetery in Sturry.
“Now the mystery has revealed itself. Now time is complete.
Now it is finished. Now it is only beginning within the heart of God.”
(Joan Chittister – The Gift of Years.)
Rest in peace, Rose