May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Everywhere Loved!

‘I am with you always even to the end of the world’.

These words from Matthew’s Gospel capture well the driving force behind our dear Sister Marie’s life. Deep faith in the one who called her and loved her unconditionally. At approximately 5.15pm on Friday 8th November, our dear Sister, Marie, came face to face with the one she had lovingly and generously served for over seven decades as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

To Marie’s sisters, Nell and Patricia and their families and all her relatives and friends, who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our our deepest sympathy and the support of our prayers. 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 via live streaming us from around Australia and the world.

Marie was born in Sydney, NSW, on 1st May 1927, the third of five children of Mary and William Ryan. Marie’s family meant everything to her, and she was very close to her parents and four siblings, Vincent, Nell, Francis and Patricia. Marie grew up in a happy home and the Ryan family name was well known around Daceyville. Marie’s parents were generous, salt of the earth people, deeply religious with a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. She recalls special times praying the rosary as a family and being inspired by her father’s faith as he walked from Daceyville to OLSH Randwick, to sing in the choir at 10am Mass.

It can be said of Marie that she had three great loves: her God, her family and her Religious Family. Her family was always very supportive of her and of the Congregation and the not-so-young among us will remember well her brother, Vince, and his willingness to assist the Sisters in whatever way he could.

Marie was an excellent sports woman, and she received many certificates for Physical Education and sport. During the war years she even played Softball for the Australian Koala team against the American soldier’s team, the Bears. Marie enjoyed singing and I can’t forget to mention dancing! She loved attending the CYO dances and a few years back Marie said to me, ‘’When you give my eulogy make sure you say I loved to dance’. And many of us have fond memories of Marie singing ‘Give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above, but don't fence me in. Marie was very social, and she had good friends that she kept throughout her long life. She was faithful to them and they to her. She constantly expressed her appreciation to them.

All of Marie’s education was in Sydney where she was educated by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Marie was a decisive child and as a primary student at St Michael’s Daceyville longed to know and make known the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was convinced that Jesus was calling her to follow him in religious life as a missionary Sister; and after three years working as a stenographer entered the Novitiate at Hartzer Park in1945, at Bowral and when she saw where she was going to live, she said she thought, "Give me land, lots of land ..."

Marie was professed in 1947 and in 1949 she embarked on an extraordinary journey to Nauru and later the Gilbert Islands, known today as Kiribati. Despite the daunting obstacles of scorching heat, limited resources, and the isolation of her mission, Marie was deeply happy as she responded to God’s call to be a missionary in the land of her missionary dreams, Kiribati.

In all, Marie spent just under fifteen years in the Central Pacific, three in Nauru and twelve in Kiribati. Whilst in Nauru and Kiribati, Marie taught in school on several islands: South and North Tarawa, Abemama and Abaiang. She made an invaluable contribution to the lives of the people in Nauru and Kiribati. On her return to Australia Marie never lost her great love for Kiribati as she faithfully ordered, packed and sent packages back to assist the school children in Kiribati. And she was always quick to demonstrate her joy at being able to do the beautiful dances she had learnt there. Her love for the I-Kiribati people remained strong; she was always excited to meet and chat with Sisters returning from Kiribati for holidays.

When Marie returned to Australia, from Kiribati, she continued her ministry as a teacher in many areas throughout Australia, from the Northern Territory to Tasmania. As a teacher Marie was competent and creative with a special interest in those students who found study difficult. Marie had a genuine love for her students and their families, she kept in contact with many of them after they left school and entered the workforce.

After retiring from teaching in the mid-seventies, Marie moved into Parish Pastoral Work. As a pastoral worker in the parish, she was especially sympathetic and compassionate to those she visited. She would always go beyond what was needed to bring comfort to the sick and elderly. She was fondly remembered by the parishioners wherever she worked. In 1986 Marie moved to Hartzer Park when she joined her good friend Sr Lorraine Ryan, (no relation) in the ministry of hospitality and welcome. Later Marie moved to Kensington, and it has been said she had a great ability to put order into disorder with the help of Sr Lorraine Ryan especially when called upon so many times when the Dining Room at Kensington had to be set up for special occasions. This was always done with efficiency and great good humour.

Marie was a people’s person, she loved being with and talking to people on any level. In community Marie generously participated in all aspects of life. She was very welcoming, thoughtful, and hospitable. When Sisters were new to the community, she went out of her way to be helpful making them fell more “at home”.

She loved life, and she was totally committed to everything, her prayer life, her apostolate, her Community, family and friends. Marie took very seriously her commitment to life as an FDNSC. She loved her vocation and expressed that love by her great fidelity. She loved the regular routine that religious life offered.

When it was becoming apparent that Marie’s health was failing and she was asked to transfer to St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility, she accepted the decision with her graciousness. Her warm smile and twinkle in her eye reflected the joy she experienced whenever you visited her at St Joseph’s where she was beautifully cared for until her death.

We thank God for the many gifts given to Sr Marie. We will be ever grateful to William, Mary and the Ryan family for the gift of Marie to our Congregation! We know Marie loved her family greatly and held her siblings close to her heart.
Go in peace dear Marie, united with the one who says ‘Í am with you always even to the end of the world’.

Thank you for your gracious spirit, deep spirituality, and warm smile. May your courageous soul rest in peace.

Philippa Murphy FDNSC
Provincial Leader