Margaret Healy, CSJP (1937-2024)
Sister Margaret Healy was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 24 October 1937, the second child in a family of two boys and three girls. She first encountered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace through friends. Unable to resist the call to religious life, she joined the novitiate in Rearsby, Leicestershire, England, on the 2 February 1964.
Sister Margaret earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Geography at Cork University, Cork, Ireland in 1971. After the novitiate, she became a teacher. Her first teaching appointment was to St. Patrick’s School, Harworth, Nottinghamshire, England. She served at St. Mary’s Comprehensive School, Grimsby; Bishop Ellis School, Leicester; and St. Wilfred’s High School, Featherstone.
Sister Margaret’s many gifts were often called upon by the community, and she responded with a generosity of spirit and dedication. Following our Congregation’s centenary celebrations in 1984, Sister Margaret was elected Provincial Leader and served for five years. Sister Margaret was always supportive and affirming of others. Women in need featured high on her agenda. She encouraged the sisters to respond to the Gospel call in promoting our charism of peace through justice.
Having completed her term of office, Sister Margaret decided to take a sabbatical course of spiritual studies, entitled “Sojourn in the Land of the Bible,” at Eccentric Homo, Jerusalem. This, for Sister Margaret, was a marvellous experience. On her return home, she wrote:
This period of reflection and study broadened my horizons considerably and helped me see the work of God as an evolving process and the incidentals of particular detail, rule and regulation minor when viewed in the global sphere of time and space. My faith deepened and I came to a greater understanding of Judaism and experienced sympathy for both the Jews and the Palestinians, both of whom have suffered greatly in the struggle over land and water.
Sister Margaret was totally dedicated to serving the Congregation in whatever way she could. Soon after her return from Jerusalem, she was elected as Assistant Congregation Leader in 1990, serving with Sister Suzanne Golas, CSJP. Sister Margaret accepted this great responsibility with faith and trust in God.
In the United Kingdom region, she was a long time Trustee of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace UK Charity and the bursar. Sister Margaret served as an active member of the regional finance committee until just before she died. She was a careful steward of our finances, while also being attentive to the signs of the times and opportunities to share our financial resources for mission.
Human Trafficking was an issue of grave concern for her. She was very involved in collaborative efforts to assist survivors and address the root causes of modern slavery through advocacy.
Sister Margaret dearly loved her family and was interested in all their undertakings. They too are feeling the loss of one they held very dearly.
Sister Margaret Healy passed away peacefully late Tuesday night, 30 July 2024, at home at St. Joseph’s Convent in Leicester, England, surrounded by the loving presence of her local community members. We give thanks for her 86 years of life and 60 years of loving service as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace and for her keen intellect, forthrightness, deep faith, and love of God and the Congregation.
May Sister Margaret now enjoy the love and care of God, whom she served so generously and faithfully.