Sister Catherine Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Charles Ferguson and Mary Anne Murray. She was introduced to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace through what she described as “providential encounters” with the sisters at Carstairs.
Sister Catherine traveled from Scotland to Rearsby to enter the community in 1952. She reflected: “It was a time when all of Europe was recovering from two world wars. Everyone’s hopes and dreams were on a lasting and feasible peace. At the age of 25, I saw clearly that my calling was to do my part by giving my life to God’s service.”
She answered that call for the rest of her life. After the novitiate, the community sent Sister Catherine to study at the University of Galway in the West of Ireland. Courses were taught mostly in Irish, which was challenging for Sister Catherine. She counted her time there as transformational, however, both because of the quality of the education she received and the “great blessing of visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock in County Mayo.” It was in Galway that Catherine first learned of our community’s connection to Knock through Mother Clare and Evangelista, even though this history was not yet embraced by the Congregation.
Sister Catherine was an educator, teaching classes to sisters in formation and for several years in schools in London, Nottingham, and Yorkshire. She observed that “each had its own challenges and joys. But I had promised God that I would serve His poorest and neglected.” She accepted the invitation to teach with other members of the Congregation in Cameroon. Later she taught at the Junior Seminary in Kakamega Diocese, Kenya. She kept in regular contact with several of the young men after they were ordained.
Recurring malaria led to her departure from Kenya. Sister Catherine first returned to England, where she accompanied people through marriage encounter and Cursio work. In 1989 she travelled across the Irish sea where she found the opportunity to contribute to the peace process in Northern Ireland and engage in spiritual formation ministry with young people a great blessing. “I believe and trust in the generosity and faith of the youth of today and am grateful for the opportunity to be innovative by the Congregation.”
Sister Catherine was among a group of Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace who embraced the call of the Second Vatican Council to return to our roots and research our founding story. Her focus was on the life and legacy of Honoria Gaffney, Mother Evangelista, who met Mother Clare when she was a lay teacher in Knock and guided the Congregation through our first decades. Sister Catherine donated her substantial research to the Knock Archives where they are treasured and kept safe for future generations.
Sister Catherine was drawn to the spirituality of the Focolare movement, especially the work and vision of its founder Chiara Lubich, with whom she corresponded over the years. She was especially attracted to the Focolare mission to increase communion, fraternity and peace in the world. She maintained strong relationships with her Focolare friends, who often visited and prayed with her up to her last days.
On her seventieth Jubilee, Sister Catherine reflected: “I have enjoyed a rich life of service. While there have been ups and downs, struggles and even disagreements, I know one thing: The Love of our Gracious God continues with us and holds us all in His compassionate hands.” Sister Catherine is now being held by these very loving hands and resting in the heart of God. We will share funeral arrangements when they are settled.