A parishioner of Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, Mr Jonathan Hanna, shared with CatholicNews.ie his memories of Sister Carmel’s ministry, who is retiring after 34 years of service.
Mr Hanna said, “Our Parish Sister, Carmel Earls OSF (Order of Saint Francis of Philadelphia), is leaving our parish after an extraordinary 34 years of service. At 90 years old, she marks her 70th year since receiving holy orders as a nun and is preparing to return to the USA. Originally from Castletimon, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, Sister Carmel began her posting in 1991 at a very different Neilstown Road, Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, North Clondalkin.
“A qualified counsellor, Sister Carmel has been instrumental in organising both children’s and adult choirs, along with a weekly fundraising bread and cake sale.”
Mr Hanna recalled, ” In 1994, she taught and prepared me for Religious Education to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confirmation. Her impact extended to the local senior national post-primary school, where in 1993 she co-founded the Carline Education Learning Centre, acquiring a workshop premises in the Newlands area of Clondalkin. Before securing a land lease from South Dublin County Council for a purpose-built centre in Balgaddy in Lucan, Sister Carmel recognised the need for premises that could cater to young people aged 13 to 17. These were individuals who faced challenges accessing mainstream education due to learning support, educational, social, or behavioural issues.
“Sister Carmel’s Franciscan convent at 5-6 Collinstown Grove served as an open-door residence and was situated next to a derelict house. The resourceful Sister Carmel managed to persuade SDCC to acquire and renovate the house for the community. Subsequently, in 2000, she co-founded the Beacon of Light Counselling Centre and Family Support Service CLG.
“Thanks to Sister Carmel’s vision, the Beacon of Light has grown into a primary mental health care community-based project. Over the years, its expansion led the Order of Saint Francis of Philadelphia to relinquish the residences at 5-6 Collinstown Grove so an extension of the Beacon of Light could be developed. The order then relocated to the nearby Lucan area.
“At 89, Sister Carmel remained vibrant, active, and deeply connected to the parish of Saint Peter the Apostle. She kept her office there, stayed in touch with grassroots initiatives, and volunteered with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Her pilgrimages to sacred sites such as the Holy Land, Medjugorje, Lourdes, and Our Lady’s Shrine in Knock stand as testaments to her devotion. She also received a ministerial appointment to Pobal, a State board, serving the Archdiocese of Dublin with unwavering commitment”, Mr Hanna concluded.
Commenting on Sister Carmel’s ministry, Bishop Roche said, “I am delighted to be part of this great occasion, celebrating Sister Carmel’s 70 years of dedicated service in religious life. She is a remarkable woman, not only for her many achievements, but particularly for the great sense of joy and enthusiasm that she seems to have in abundance. Her energy, her commitment and her zest for life are infectious. In an ever more secular world, Sister Carmel’s faith and her faithfulness to her vocation are real signs of God’s enduring love in the world. She has radiated the love and goodness of God to countless people over her long years of service. May she continue to do so for many more years to come.”