Offaly celebrations mark bicentenary of founding of French order of nuns

THE La Sainte Union des Sacré-Coeurs order of nuns was founded in 1826 by Jean Baptiste Debrabant in Douai in France.
As part of a year of bicentenary celebrations a series of events will be held in France, Britain and Ireland.
Last Sunday, the Banagher community of LSU nuns began their celebrations with a thanksgiving Mass held in St Rynagh’s Church which Bishop Paul Connell concelebrated along with Fr Pat Kiernan PP.
Later in the afternoon, several events took place in Banagher College Coláiste Na Sionna, commencing at 2pm with a photographic collection that was simply overwhelming to take it all in in the time allocated. There were old photographs going back many years accompanied by cuttings from the local Midland Tribune that carried news reports, sporting events, religious happenings etc. that took place over the years. There was even a box of old photographs which were neatly put together in several photo albums and which attracted a lot of attention.

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Mrs Geraldine Noonan and Mr Kevin Jordan were two special guests who delivered some history on the life of the LSU sisters. Both speakers have written works on the history of the Order.

After some light refreshments were served, the last event of the day took place with a short walk down the road to St Rynagh’s old Graveyard in the heart of Banagher where a wreath was placed on the table tombs of Mary and Anne Fox who are buried there. The two sisters’ endowment facilitated the establishment of the congregation in Banagher in 1863.

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