SR. VERONICA KAVANAGH (Mary Paul)
It was in ‘Dublin’s fair city’ that Sr. Veronica Kavanagh was born on September 19th 1932 and where she was Baptised two days later in the parish church of St. James. God had blessed James and Katherine Kavanagh with three children, David, Bernadette and Veronica into whom they endeavoured to instil something of their own deep Faith.
Veronica was educated by the Sisters of Charity and it was during her Secondary Education that she came in contact with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions who had been invited to speak to the pupils about their Congregation. Veronica felt very drawn to the RNDMs. Was it perhaps the word ‘Missions’ that attracted her? Characteristically she wanted to know more and, being very determined, decided to finish her secondary education in Limavady. It came as no surprise when, in 1951, Veronica sought and gained permission to enter the Novitiate in Hastings. She was just nineteen years old.
On receiving the Holy Habit she was given the name Sr. Mary Paul of the +, an apt name for, like her patron, she was to be ‘in journeyings often’, in the years ahead, bringing the Word of God to faraway peoples and places.
Her first call to Mission came a short time after she made First Profession and so, with great generosity, determination and a lot of courage, she set off for New Zealand to teach in Sacred Heart primary school in Christchurch.
Over the years that followed, Veronica would be asked to fill many important and challenging roles wherever she was sent. For example, she was Novice Mistress in the Indian subcontinent for ten years where she is remembered with gratitude and affection. On hearing of her death, one of her former novices wrote, ‘We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Sr. Veronica to our province… and thank God for her life and Mission.’
These sentiments could no doubt be echoed in many places in the RNDM world where Veronica gave of her best no matter what she was asked to do.
Veronica certainly lived life to the full. She had a very enquiring mind, always wanting to know more and, in spite of living a busy life trying to fulfil the many and various roles she was asked to embrace, sister found time to follow courses in spirituality, theology, and education over the years so as to keep herself well informed and so carry out her Mission to the best of her ability.
Veronica loved beautiful things and enjoyed music, art and literature. Her room was a work of art – there was a place for everything and everything in its place! She was a perfectionist to the core and passionate too about the whole of ordered creation and the Cosmos.
She once wrote in her journal: ‘Visited the park in London today. I loved it! A huge gnarled tree stretched across the ponds, reminding us how far back nature and ancient nature goes. It gave me space to sit and gaze on a picture and scene of great art. To be present to the harmony of it all, was soothing. God, Holy Mystery, was present within it. [March 13th 2020]
In another place she writes: ‘Sometimes it is good to leave the crowd,
to wrap yourself in a cloak of quietness to sit alone and reacquaint.
Yourself with your dreams.’
These glimpses of Veronica’s faith and spirituality no doubt nourished her for many of her 68 years as an RNDM.
A severe stroke prevented sister from continuing her work as provincial secretary and she was moved to Deal where it was hoped she would have more rest and care. She tried valiantly to overcome the effects of the stroke but after a time her health declined rapidly and she was taken to hospital where they discovered that nothing more could be done for her except to bring her home, keep her comfortable and free from pain. God called Veronica finally to her eternal rest in His loving care on the night of March 22nd 2021.
May she rest in His peace.
May you be embraced by God in whom dawn and twilight
are one: and may your longing inhabit its deepest
dreams within the shelter of the Great Belonging.
[John O’Donohue]