Tribute to Loreto Sister who ‘dodged bullets’ in Kenya

An Irish priest working in Kenya has paid tribute to Sr Colombiere Kelly IBVM, who died last week after spending decades changing culture and educating girls.

Fr Conor Donnelly, who is based in Nairobi, said Sr Kelly went to East Africa and became principal of a Catholic school in 1952 during very challenging times.

“There were Christmases when there was no food, they dodged Mau Mau bullets in the late 50s, mattresses were sacks packed with grass, the first girls, unaccustomed to school, ran away, but little by little with perseverance, things went forward,” he said.

He added that today there are many Loreto schools all over the country which facilitated the education of many prominent Kenyan women. “They became the backbone of educational system. In 2013…Sr Colombiere personally received an award on behalf of all Loreto for their contribution to education. The president himself, son of the founding father, was an alumnus,” Fr Donnelly said.

Two weeks ago a contemporary of hers also died, Sr Breid Cunningham, she had spent 73 years in Africa. Between them they clocked up 146 years of service to education in East Africa.

“Women of stature, caliber, courageous, idealistic, full of feminine genius, they have left their mark,” Fr Donnelly added.