Platinum Jubilee of Sr Mary Moynihan and Sr Maria Goretti RSM
11 February, 2025
On 23 January 1955, two young Irish-born women, Sr Mary Moynihan and Sr Maria Goretti, professed their vows as members of the Rockhampton Sisters of Mercy. Though these two Sisters requested a ‘very simple celebration’, it was important for the community to gather on 23 January 2025 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, The Range, to honour their seventy years of faith-filled ministry and shared commitment to the Sisters of Mercy. Fr Alex Varghese presided at the Eucharist which was followed by an enjoyable morning tea.
Sr Mary Moynihan was born in Cork, Ireland, where she went to school at the local Presentation Convent. While at secondary school, Sr M Teresita Ryan, an Irish-born Sister of Mercy visited the college seeking postulants for the Rockhampton Sisters of Mercy. Convinced of her calling – that she needed to do something worthwhile with her life, Mary responded and sailed to Rockhampton on the Maloja in June 1949, a decision she has never regretted.
Musically gifted, Mary taught music to children in many of our Diocesan schools for twenty-five years, including Barcaldine, Walkerston, Theodore, North Rockhampton, Biloela, West Mackay, Marian and Sarina. Following a year of renewal in 1976, Mary took the opportunity to pursue her dream and studied to become a registered nurse, enabling her to care for the sick and elderly in our various health and aged care facilities, an active ministry which enriched Mary’s life for more than ten years. Mary spent some semi-retirement years in Gladstone, visiting the sick and aged, but now she enjoys retirement as a resident at McAuley Place, Rockhampton.
Sr Maria Goretti (Marie Healy) was born in Cork, Ireland, and was educated by the local Presentation Sisters. While at secondary school, the pupils farewelled some of the older students who were joining the Rockhampton Sisters of Mercy. On a home visit, Fr Tim Murphy spoke to Maria’s class about Australia and the faith needs of its many Catholics. Marie sensed the seed of a Religious vocation was blossoming. In January 1951, Maria left Southampton on the Strathaird together with other young Irish women entering religious life in various parts of Australia.
Maria Goretti initially taught many primary school children in different schools throughout the Diocese, including Biloela, North Mackay, Habana, South Bundaberg and Mount Morgan before accepting the challenge to move into secondary school teaching, mainly at the Range College (R’ton) and Chanel College (Gladstone) where she had the opportunity to use and share her artistic gifts with the students and other community groups. Maria is also a resident at McAuley Place, Rockhampton.
On behalf of the Sisters, Sr Denise Hinton offered sincere congratulations to Mary and Maria Goretti for their generosity, fidelity and lives of service. Their personal gifts have enriched many people, both young and old, in our Diocese and beyond, where Mary and Maria Goretti have witnessed to Gospel values and a Mercy way of life. We join with our Diocesan family in congratulating Mary and Maria Goretti and pray that God’s blessing will sustain them in the days ahead.
