‘End of an era’ as the Cross and Passion Sisters leave Ballycastle after 109 years

The Cross and Passion Sisters, who founded a well-known school in Ballycastle, will be “greatly missed” by the community after they decided to close their convent in the Antrim parish.

The decision was a “natural progression” for the sisters, who had not been involved in the school for several years, explained Sr Margaret Rose, former principal of the Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle.

“The decision was made peacefully and by choice,” Sr Margaret said. “The sisters who were there, they feel that the time has come for them to retire.

“They have not been involved in the schools for some time, just doing pastoral work and spiritual ministry the last few years. So they’ve decided it’s time to gracefully call time and move on.”

The Cross and Passion Sisters first arrived in Ballycastle in 1912, where they contributed to the provision of education through a number of primary and secondary schools, the most well-known being Cross and Passion College. Since 2013, the remaining sisters had been conducting pastoral work in the parish of Ballycastle and were no longer involved in the school.

Sr Margaret said the “hospitality and companionship” they provided throughout the years will be “greatly missed” by the community of Ballycastle.

“It has come a full circle, there were five sisters at the ceremony on Sunday and there were five sisters when they first came, back in 1912, and in between that there were very big communities of sisters and from there a lot of sisters have gone on missions. It’s the end of an era, but a good history.”

The bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Noel Treanor, celebrated a Mass on Sunday, February 14 out of “gratitude for what’s been done” by the sisters in the Ballycastle area, Sr Margaret finished.