Sr Mary Higney (Sr Mary Aloysius)
Mary was born into a very close Catholic family in a small tightly knit Catholic mining village, Croy. Her father was a miner and she had two brothers and two other sisters, both of whom sadly died, Patricia when she was 10 years old and then Helena when just a few months old. Her two brothers emigrated to America where sadly one of them was killed in a tragic accident. Her remaining brother still lives in America with his family. The church was very much part of her life as it was of the rest of the villagers and there was a great community spirit in the village. This relaxed happy atmosphere at home and in the village no doubt contributed greatly to Mary’s warm nature. She attended school in Croy, then Kirkintilloch and went to the Juniorate in Hastings to complete her education before entering in 1963.
Following her profession, Mary was fully engaged in typing, putting to good use the skills she had gained. Many Sisters remember her being at a typewriter in the Secretariate in Hastings with Rev Mother M St Dennis, typing out our Foundress’ letters. When she wasn’t doing that, she had her duties in the sacristy so was never lost for something to do! No matter what she was doing, Mary always had time for a laugh and was well known for her light-heartedness!
In 1974, Mary was a student at Coloma College where she trained for teaching 3- 8 year olds. She specialised in creative dance and made a great contribution to some of our liturgies at Province Gatherings with her dance. Her great love was being with nursery children and she spent 5 happy years in Chew Magna working with the nursery class. Sisters in the community were often entertained with her stories of what these young children did or said!
Following some years teaching in St Joseph’s Wealdstone, Mary went to Rome for her Tertianship. This was a great experience for her and one she treasured.
She valued the time for prayer and reflection and also the companionship of Sisters from different parts of the Congregation. Being Mary, she also loved the social side, the sightseeing and visiting Rome and Florence! She made several strong friendships while there which lasted over the years.
Mary had a real gift for reaching out to others who had problems and this was strongly in evidence in her ministry in Dewsbury with adults who had learning difficulties. She had 7 years working there and greatly contributed to the relaxed, happy atmosphere there while also challenging the adults to go beyond what seemed their limits. Some Sisters when visiting recall Mary teaching them how to put their key in the door so as to open it, also helping them to gain some measure of independence by going in and out to Leeds by public transport on their own.
After a renewal course in Dalgan Park, Mary moved to Kirkby where she again became fully involved in teaching and pastoral work. In response to a need, she moved to Bamber Bridge in 2003 and became fully involved in the pastoral life of the parish. Fr Mark, the parish priest, commented at the funeral Mass that for every family in the parish who had a child baptised over those years, contact would have been with Mary who did the Baptism programme. She became involved in all areas of the parish life, preparation for all the Sacraments, bereavement programmes and visiting the housebound and taking the Sacrament to them. Her involvement in the ecumenical life of the area was also appreciated and a lovely tribute was received from the Methodist minister, among many others. The international renewal course in Thailand allowed Mary some respite to recoup her energies and renew and forge friendships which were always important to Mary and she returned to Bamber Bridge to share the fruits of her experience there.
Although she had been unwell for some time, Mary’s death came suddenly and shocked the Province, her family, parishioners and all who knew her. COVID restrictions limited the number allowed at the Requiem Mass but Internet allowed access to many people all over the world, especially her brother Owen and his family in America. At the Requiem Mass were representatives from the Benedictines with whom Mary had worked over her 18 years in Bamber Bridge and priests from the local parish, a few members of her family from Scotland and five RNDMs. Her home parish, Croy, had their own Mass which was celebrated on the Saturday after the funeral and, as they said, honoured one of their own, “our wee May”!
Mary, you will long be remembered and live on in our hearts! May you be truly at rest now with the God you served so faithfully!