The Medical Missionaries of Mary have moved into a newly refurbished convent at their headquarters in Drogheda.
The development has been described as “another milestone in the life
of the order” which undertakes missionary work in thirteen countries,
across Europe, Africa and the Americas and has its motherhouse in
Drogheda.
The building, which was extended in 2009, provides accommodation for
up to ninety Sisters, including those on leave from overseas missions,
and has now been brought into line with modern safety requirements.
As the keys to the renovated building were officially handed over,
Congregation Leader Sr Siobhan Corkery said they “remember
with gratitude our foundress Mother Mary Martin, who was inspired to
build our convent and the International Missionary Training Hospital
here in Drogheda.”
“She often said 'If God wants the work, God will show the way', and we thank God the work is completed,” she remarked.
Work on the building at Beechgrove had been ongoing since 2006, after
a fire and safety report deemed that major refurbishment was
necessary.
“I believe at the time the architect Turlough McKevitt, in
his compassionate way, asked if the sisters would prefer not to be
disturbed until after Christmas, and they said no, start now, so they
did!” Sr Corkery revealed.
The oldest section of the convent is part of the original motherhouse
which dates from the early 1940s and which was badly damaged in a fire
in 1952.
The Medical Missionaries currently have about 400 women who come from
16 different nationalities.
This includes eleven, mostly small,
communities in Ireland and a Congregational Centre in Dublin, where the
Central Leadership Team is now based.