Expression of Sympathy

Dear Sister Maeve,
Just heard through Sr Bernadette Pinto that Sr. Cecilia has gone home to God. I am sure she received a great welcome in God's kingdom as she always gave of her best without counting the cost. A great lady has left us, but at the same time her parents and many friends who preceded her into Paradise must have welcomed her there. Many memories come flooding through my mind....God bless dear Sr. Cecilia for her missionary vision and gift of herself to that Mission. May God forgive her sins and may she enjoy eternal peace and joy immediately. I think of dear Sr Philo, her 2 brothers and the rest of the family at this sorrowful time. My prayers are with them. To you, Sr Louis Marie and the Community I offer my sympathy and prayer. May God strengthen your faith and give you peace.
Love to you and all the sisters in Mount Sackville,
Sr. Rosalie

My dear Sister Maeve and Sisters,
It is with deep sorrow that we heard of the going home of Sr.Cecilia, the valiant missionary that she was. All the sisters in Pondicherry Province join me to express our heartfelt condolence and grief. Of course she is in a better place, a place she longed for and specially prepared for her from all eternity. As long as she was able, Sr.Cecilia was very prompt in replying to all the letters she received, interested in giving and  receiving news. It is rightly said that her heart was in India. She must have been very happy to do the final embarkation from the Cluny Port. It is a great loss for all of us, especially for you and for all the Sisters in her community.
We assure you of our prayers for the repose of her soul, (Mass will be offered). Also we pray for all of you.
With love and prayers,
Sr.Teresa.T.

Dear Sr. Meave
This mail comes from  Sr. Annette ,Bangalore ,South West Province of India  to express our deep sympathy at the demise of  our dear Sr. Cecilia KENNY.We pray that her soul may rest in peace. We are grateful to God for sending such a wonderful missionary from Ireland to our land . Sister was the Foundress of the community  and  three schools –Cluny Convent school and Nirmala Rani School at  Malleswaram and Cluny Convent School atJallahalli  in  Bangalore in 1948 and later years. Sister was made Superior at the age of 29  and was  the Principal of the School in Bangalore for ten years and all who lived  with her cherish the memory of the  life they lived together .

Sister was a strict disciplinarian who wanted the Sisters to follow the rule to the last dot- no compromise- severe in appearance but very affectionate and kind at heart. Sister took personal interest in all the Sisters and used to enquire about them whenever there was an opportunity .Sister took great initiative to send Sisters for  higher education  .Sister was a mother concerned about the other, always encouraging and had a forgiving heart. A person very gentle, understanding  available and above all very spiritual Sister was very much concerned about the poor .Now as she faces her divine spouse face to face may she have the joy of hearing Him say “ Good and faithful servant enter into the joy my eternal kingdom “

Sister Annette and all the Sisters of Bangalore( South West Province India) Preethi Sadan  Cluny Provincialate, Bangalore

We, Association of Little Flower School Alumni (ALFA), sincerely condole the sad demise of Sister Mary Cecilia about which we have come to know from Sister Hilda D'Souza of Sisters of Saint Joseph's of Cluny, Jamshedpur, India. We have fond memories of Sister Cecilia during her tenure as Principal of Little Flower School, Jamshedpur, from 1975 to 1978 and especially for her immaculate knowledge and teaching of Geography. We have also come to know of the extreme difficulties being faced by the Sisters of Cluny at Haiti and are grieved to learn about the demise of the Sisters there. We sympathize and pray for the betterment of all concerned in Haiti.

In 1974 at the request of the Bishop of Jamshedpur, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny took over the administration of Little Flower School, Telco, Jamshedpur from the Sisters of Mercy.  Mother Cecilia Kenny became the First Cluny Principal of the School and the superior of the Community of Little Flower Convent.  Mother Cecilia worked hard to bring up the academic Standard of the School. A born teacher,  she personally taught English, Geography and catechism. Her students even now hail her for her immaculate knowledge in Geography. With grateful hearts the people of Telco  remember Mother Cecilia for her untiring and dedicated service in the School.  Sister Cecilia was kind and understanding Principal, genuinely interested in the welfare of the students and teachers alike. It was therefore with great sorrow that the school bade farewell to Sister Cecilia in 1978 as she moved on to a more important assignment, that of Provincial Superior of the Cluny Congregation Mother loved India and she took keen interest in discovering  the rich culture of India. She encouraged the Sisters to learn the local language.  She educated the young Sisters to be professionally qualified to meet  the challenges in their  apostolate. Personal Note from Sr HildaI have lost a dear friend of mine in Mother Cecilia’s demise. Mother has guided me as a Provincial and later as a Junior Mistress. Mother as the Provincial was very thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of the Sisters.  Somehow she could sense the deepest need, even without being expressed. For her physical health of the Sisters was as important as their spiritual well being. Mother was also very much interested in the well being of the Sisters’ families especially their parents. Mother’s love for the poor was also remarkable. She went to any extent to relieve them of their pain and poverty. We the Sisters of the Province were very saddened to see Mother leave India Mother gave a reply to every mail sent to her. Her mail contained very encouraging words.

We the Sisters in the North Indian plains will remain indebted to her for her selfless commitment to the people of our Province.