Lest We Forget
Sister Deirdre Duffy, CSJP (1939-2011)
Sister Deirdre was born in Portumna, Co Galway on April 18, 1939. She was the second eldest of three children born to Patrick and Gretta Duffy. She had one sister and one brother. Marion is still living, though in poor health and sadly Michael died in 1982. On September 12, 1957 Deirdre responded to God’s call and left her home in Co Down and came to Rearsby to join the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace. She made her first Profession of Vows in 1960 and three years later she graduated as a Teacher from Maria Assumpta College, London. Deirdre’s first teaching appointment was St Augustine’s School, Nottingham. She was a gifted musician and when her skills were needed in an inner city school in Bradford, she moved there and became Head of the Music Department.
In 1974 she took a Sabbatical in Maynooth College and followed a year’s course in Theology. This proved a wonderful experience for her and she returned with new insights and understanding of Religious Life in the early post Vatican Council period.
Our charism of Peace which "challenges us to prophetic risk so that God’s reign might be more fully realised" – Constitutions 12 - gave Deirdre the inspiration for ministry with poor and oppressed people especially those who suffer injustice and the denial of their rights and dignity as human beings. She moved into Social Work and spent three years as Deputy Matron at St Joseph’s Mother and Baby Home, West Bridgford. She also spent one year in Hyson Green working with homeless people, drug and alcohol mis-users and single parent families.
She became very interested in the work of Pax Christi and it was a great joy to her when she became the Disarmament Co-ordinator for Pax Christi UK. Her ministry included providing education regarding the Arms Race, Arms Trade and Nuclear issues – by raising awareness about these areas through writing, seminars, conferences etc. in schools, parishes and other groups on a national level. Deirdre did remarkable work on Peace and Justice and especially on the question of disarmament and the Church’s commitment to this cause in Britain and all over the world.
Her wide experience and knowledge was called forth for our own Congregation when in preparation for our Centenary Assembly in 1984 at Leicester University, Deirdre became the Province Co-ordinator of a three year Congregational Programme. This involved raising awareness of a wide variety of Justice, Peace and Development issues within the Congregation and also working with the Co-ordinators from our two American Provinces. This she did with great skill and expertise. Unfortunately, her health began to fail and she needed major surgery and a long recuperation period.
In 1987 she accepted the post of Co-ordinator of the Conference of Major Religious Superiors Social Justice Desk. This entailed providing education on social justice and peace development issues for all Religious Congregations in England and Wales. In fact she established this project from scratch and it became a very well recognised and highly regarded part of COR. Again ill health forced her to give up this work and despite major surgery and long spells of hospitalisation eventually she was ready for a new challenge. This time she accepted the post of Resettlement Manager for the Cardinal Hume Centre, London. This involved the development of a comprehensive Resettlement Programme for young homeless people including drug and alcohol mis-users. Deirdre spent six very happy and fruitful years working with this particular group of vulnerable and marginalised young people.
Failing health again forced her to retire from her demanding ministries and take life ‘a little easier’. She had a remarkable capacity to deal with her illness and she could find sufficient strength within herself to respond to others in need. She did voluntary work with Notting Hill Housing Trust who ministered to homeless people. This involved supporting rehoused homeless people with mental health problems. At the same time she did voluntary work with Pax Christi and also with Centrepeace who minister to women and children with HIV/AIDS.
Deirdre had a great sense of humour and she loved being in the company of people. She had many friends with whom she kept in touch by phone and e-mails. She was always ready to offer a helping hand to someone in need, and she visited elderly and disabled people in her parish and neighbourhood. She was a deeply spiritual woman with tremendous compassion and empathy with those in need. She was an Irish woman through and through and she dearly loved her family. She said that she would like to be remembered as a Sister of St Joseph of Peace seriously committed to spreading and living our charism, a pleasant colleague and someone with a sense of humour.
Over the past few years Deirdre’s failing health worsened and she accepted her constant pain with heroic courage. She received great medical care and attention throughout her long and final illness. God called her home on September 5, 2011. Her sufferings are now over and we pray that she is enjoying the fullness of life in Heaven. May she rest in the love and care of God whom she served so faithfully throughout her life.