Dear Friends of Eco-Congregation Ireland,
We are sad to let you know today of the death of one of the founding members of ECI, Catherine Brennan SSL. She had been the Catholic representative on the ECI committee since our foundation in 2005, and she was the driving force in so many of our activities. Her enthusiasm was unbounded, as was her persistence and drive to care for the environment. She was a constant source of encouragement, keeping in touch with so many parishes and places across Ireland. She recognised for early days the need for the churches to work together, and that care for God’s creation was an ecumenical and intergenerational activity.
She was an inspirational educator for many years, in a number of the schools run by her order, the sisters of Saint Louis, and this inspiration continued in her retirement with young and old alike. Despite constant bouts of ill health, she seemed to work indefatigably, and each one of our committee meetings brought news of parishes beginning their journey or receiving awards. Just last week she was arranging for a gold award to be presented to Ballineaspaig parish in Cork City. In many ways, Eco-Congregation Ireland is her legacy.
All of us who worked with her will cherish happy memories of her enjoyable company and companionship and constant smile.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory
Andrew Orr
You can read tributes to Catherine here.
You can read Fr Hugh O’Donnell’s reflection entitled ‘Slow Lane: Aurora Borealis’ which he dedicated to Catherine here.