Mags GarganThe Poor Clare community in Cork are celebrating the centenary of their arrival in the city, thanks to a local businessman who funded the construction of their monastery.
The Poor Clares moved into their monastery on College Road on Christmas Eve 1914. The building was funded by Walter Dwyer, whose daughter Mary (Sr Maria) was one of the founding sisters.
Bishop John Buckley described the monastery as a “power house of prayer and a place of refuge for those in need”.
“The people of Cork have always acknowledged, cherished and valued the prayers of the Poor Clare Sisters,” he said.
To mark their centenary the sisters celebrated Mass at midnight on Christmas Eve with the Guardian of the local Franciscan Community, Fr Bernard Jones OFM and representatives of the Dwyer family.
The centenary celebrations will close on Saturday, January 3 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Buckley.