May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Everywhere Loved!

Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star so strong and bright.

The hymn, Gentle Woman, was being played at the moment our much-loved Sister, Margaret, peacefully came face to face with the one she had so lovingly and faithfully served as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for over six decades. ‘Gentle woman, quiet light’, these words capture the essence of our Sister Marg.

To Margaret’s brothers Brian and Kevin, and her sisters Carmel and Bernadette, and all her relatives and friends who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our deep sympathy and love. You know well her deep love for you, her pride and joy in you and her gratitude to you. We also offer sympathy to those who join us via live streaming from around Australia and the world, especially our Sisters.

Margaret Mary Bird, Marg, as she was known to many of us, was born in Ipswich, Queensland on the 21st Feb 1940 to Joseph and Pauline, the sixth of eleven children. Marg grew up in a happy family and she recalled joyful times with the arrival home of a newborn baby. Marg recalled the time her father brought her mother home in a taxi and all the children lined up and one at a time put their arms around their mother as she held the newborn baby. This was a precious time in Marg’s life. Her parents lived a life of integrity and their strength during the difficult years, living during the depression and war times, came from their deep religious faith and daily prayer.

Marg attended most of her schooling at St Marys in Ipswich. She was eight when her older sister Joan, joined the OFM’s and her father, a convert, reminded her there are many religious orders. Marg enjoyed reading the stories of the missionaries and as a young girl was convinced that Jesus was calling her to follow him in religious life as a missionary Sister, focussed on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Marg wrote to Mother Brendan to make enquires about entering our Congregation. When Marg showed her father the letter Mother Brendan sent to her in response to her enquiry, her father said: ‘They seem like a sensible mob’.

And so on the 1st July 1959, Marg entered the novitiate at Hartzer Park and made her first vows in January, 1961. After profession she set about completing her Leaving Certificate at Kensington and then gained her Teacher's Certificate in Bentleigh. Margaret remained in Bentleigh for another three years, with a year teaching in Kilburn in between.

In 1965, Marg embarked on an extraordinary journey to the Gilbert Islands, known today as Kiribati. Despite the daunting obstacles of scorching heat, limited resources, and the isolation of her mission, Marg was deeply happy as she responded to God’s call to be a missionary.

Whilst in Kiribati, Marg taught both primary and secondary students and also ministered through Pastoral work programs on several islands: South and North Tarawa, Abemama and Abaiang. She made an invaluable contribution to the lives of the people in Kiribati. Her former students remember her with fondness and that she was a warm, approachable and had a genuine care for them personally. Marg was a kind, caring woman who lived her life as a missionary in Kiribati with great humility, simplicity, and generosity.

After 18 years of missionary service to the people of Kiribati, where she held many responsible positions, Margaret returned to Australia, happy and content in her ministry of hospitality and domestic work. Marg listed that one of her hobbies was domestic work. Many of us would have memories of Marg with an apron on moving, from task to task, as she responded eagerly and with joy to the needs of the Sisters and wider community at Daceyville, Darwin, Hartzer Park and Kensington.

Marg was always happy to take on the humblest of tasks within the community. At times this meant that she had to rise early (at the crack of dawn) to carry them out. She was thoughtful and exceptionally generous in her service to the sisters in community. When Marg was at Hartzer Park she supervised the domestic staff who loved and respected her for her outstanding dedication and her kindness to them. She was gracious and hospitable to all who visited. A woman of integrity, she lived her entire religious life as a whole-hearted gift to God and God’s people, in quiet fidelity and without fanfare.

Marg was a beautiful woman and a beautiful Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. She was courteous to all, spoke ill of no one and she was quick to notice what needed to be done and did it quietly and with great care. She loved reading, cooking, gardening, walking, craft and all that was to do with nature. Those who lived with her remember her as a kind, unassuming and down to earth person who treated everyone with equal dignity and respect. She had a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh. Once when she was appointed to a community as the cook, Marg exclaimed dryly: ‘If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in the kitchen with my head in the oven’.

As we know, Marg, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which affected her mobility and ability to communicate. What a time of suffering for our dear Margaret. She had to leave her ministry and she was no longer able to perform the daily tasks she loved so much like gardening and cooking and just being there to help others. Margaret accepted her suffering with her typical resignation and utter dependence on God.

In 2018 when it was becoming apparent that Margaret’s health was failing, she transferred to St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility. Here she was beautifully cared for until her death.

We will be ever grateful to Joseph and Pauline and the Bird family for the gift of Margaret to our Congregation! In the words of Marg’s dad ‘This sensible mob’.

Go in peace dear Marg, gentle woman, quiet light, united with your God, the one who loved you into life. Thank you for your faith filled witness, your humour, kindness and your beautiful generous heart.

May your gracious soul rest in peace.
Philippa Murphy FDNSC
Provincial Leader
6th November 2023