Brigid Jane McGuinness

Deceased Sisters

Brigid Jane McGuinness - Ireland
25/11/1926 - 25/02/2021

Sister Brigid Jane (Sr. Cormac) was born in Lisduff House, Drumsna, Co Leitrim on the 25^thNovember 1926 to Philip Mc Guinness and Catherine Masterson. She was an only girl and the last member of her family of four brothers, Philip, Michael, Cormac and Patrick. She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and her Sister-in-Law, Ethna.

Sr Brigid Jane attended Lisduff National School where her father was headmaster and later at Marist Convent Secondary School in Carrick-on-Shannon. Later she did her Nursing in Dublin and regularly upskilled through her nursing career. 1985-86 Brigid Jane took a years sabbatical during which she attended Pontificium Institutum “Regina Mundi” in Rome.

Sr Brigid Jane entered the Novitiate in 1945, made her first profession in 1947 and was finally professed in Carrick in 1951. As a student she lived in Cambridge Tce in Dublin but most of her Religious Life was spent in community in Carrick-on-Shannon where she worked in the local hospital and also as a nurse in Mohil, Co Leitrim.

In 1991 Sr Brigid Jane retired from her nursing but continued in a pastoral Role for a further twenty years and accompanied many patients with great care and compassion while maintaining a valued link between staff, patients and families. During this time she, with some lay staff, began a new outreach in Drumsna for the care of the aged. This was the beginning of the Drumsna Centre which still continues to support the people of the area.

The following homily given By Father Seamus O’Rourke at her funeral Mass is a fitting tribute to her 74 years of Marist life. May she rest in peace.

Homily

We are used to listening to scripture, some of us have our favourite readings. Usually ones that are consoling – that we feel comfortable. Many of us leave them at just the hearing stage, others go further.

Sr Bridget Jane was a person who lived the Gospel. She lived it not as a burden or constraint but in humility, in the quiet, without overt display of piety or attention seeking – avoiding the headlines or adulation of any kind. Bridget Jane was a great example of a vocation lived quietly, with full commitment, dedication, and compassion, one who was an authentic and genuine face of God to everyone she encountered.

Rather like the model of the Marist order – Mary the mother of Jesus. Quiet, restrained yet strong, obedient, and self-giving. I don’t think it was an accident that she was a devoted Marist sister for over 70 years. She truly lived in an exemplary manner her Marist charism “hidden and unknown in the world.”

A native of nearby Drumsna, and from her final profession here in Carrick in 1951 her life was one of quiet, willing and self-giving service to the sick and the poor. The scripture readings chosen by her Marist community are most appropriate. St Paul tells us that “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others …” and what influence, what example Bridget-Jane provided.

Quiet, unassuming, and accepting people where and as they are, were hallmarks of how Bridget Jane recognised God’s presence in different ways indifferent people.

In 1953 she was appointed to the staff of St Patrick’s hospital here in Carrick, and from 1970 was shared with the hospital in Mohill. During this time, she is remembered by all who met her as having a great capacity to share in life’s joys and sorrows and difficulties.

Sharing joys might come easy to most of us. Sharing in the sorrows is a different matter, not so glamorous.

But here she was like Mary – present at the foot of family or individual crosses – not to offer eloquent words of pity, or empty piety but to be a genuine supporting presence.

One has only to view the many condolence messages on her death notice to find wide testimony of her consoling and supporting presence to so many. She took her nursing well beyond the realm of physical illness into the psychological and spiritual. A holistic approach to human nature. Surely too she was a reassuring presence to her family, with whom she maintained contact and friendship.

In 1991, having retired from her position in the hospital she continued in a pastoral role for at least another 20 years. Accompanying patients up to their final moments in this life, a valued link between patients and family, preparing liturgies and assisting clergy, upgrading the choir became part of her life.

To me, one of her more outstanding – but rarely spoke about achievements – was that of her involvement with the Drumsna “Care of the Aged.” From small beginnings this became a major supporting organisation that continues to thrive to this day.

I believe, that if a venture continues and grows when the founders depart – it speaks much more of its communal nature rather than the individuals involved.

Bridget Jane had a great capacity to empathise – even with those of very differing life perspectives. I have been told stories of how, on many occasions, during her “night shift watch” at St Patrick’s hospital she would provide safe and welcomed – let’s say overnight accommodation for men – yeah, always men, who for some reason found it difficult to re-establish their way home after a night out (or even a day and night out!) in Carrick.

A mattress would be pulled out and hot tea provided on condition that after a night’s sleep this “visitor” would be gone before morning staff came on duty! Surely, this acceptance of the wider spectrum of our human nature is remarkable.

Non-judgemental, compassionate, caring … all qualities that the life of Jesus and the life of Mary extols.

Having known Sr Bridget Jane for just under 6 years, I feel that her life spoke so much of simplicity and empathy. She was never one to seek attention but a quiet supportive presence. One you could confide in, one to trust – like Mary our Blessed Mother she pondered things in her heart, spoke little and did not look for adulation but of doing the will of him who sent her. Like her Marist confreres, I remember her for her hospitality – a chat over tea of coffee after Mass, in her peaceful and reassuring presence.

Today, I can hear the Lord speak to her in the words of the Gospel: “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Bridget Jane set a headline for all of us in that regard. May the Lord now welcome her into Paradise. Farewell Bridget Jane – may you rest in eternal peace.

Deceased Sisters

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