Sadness as Sisters of Mercy retreat centre ends public ministry

The Galilee Spirituality Centre, Co. Roscommon, announced June 25 that it would be ending it’s public ministry this month, as a shrinking congregation meant it was no longer viable.

The three remaining RSM sisters will continue to live at the centre and minister to the local community for the next three years, Sr Olive Flanagan RSM of Galilee told The Irish Catholic.

“It’s a stressful time,” Sr Olive said, adding that the order deemed the centre no longer viable as “our governance structures within the congregations are changing, we’re reducing in numbers and ageing”.

“We’re very sad about it,” Sr Olive added. “Everything has happened so quickly too, we’ve had no time to have closure on anything. We will do later, but that has added to the pain of it.”

The local, “tight-knit community” are happy the sisters are staying, Sr Olive said, asking for people’s prayers as they go forward.