Remembering Sister Stanislaus Kennedy
The Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) is saddened to hear the news of the recent death of Sr Stanislaus Kennedy. Sr Stan is an icon of hope and a staunch campaigner and advocate for human dignity and human rights for all. As a Catholic Religious Sister, she lived a life of faith bringing Christian hope to those on the margins and periphery of our society.
Joining the Religious Sisters of Charity when she was 18 years old, Sr Stan worked tirelessly for many years responding to the realities of homelessness in Ireland and in 1985, she founded Focus Point – now Focus Ireland – to support and advocate for homelessness across the State.
As a result of the injustice and inequality in Ireland to refugees and asylum seekers, she established the Immigrant Council of Ireland in 2001 to promote and support the rights of immigrants. Sr. Stan has pioneered many other initiatives including ‘Social Innovations Ireland’ which she set-up in 2001 out of which grew the ‘Young Social Innovators of the Year’. Recognising the need for ‘safe and quiet spaces’ for people to reflect and take time out from life’s everyday challenges, she established “The Sanctuary” a meditation/spirituality centre in the heart of Dublin city centre.
Superior General of the Religious Sisters of Charity, Sr Patricia Lenihan noted that while she will greatly missed, ‘her legacy of a life dedicated to service of others in need will continue to inspire us and generations of activists and social innovators in Ireland.’
While we mourn at the passing of Sr Stan, her legacy will be a source of inspiration and commitment for future generations.
AMRI offers our condolences to the Religious Sisters of Charity and her family.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam
ENDS
Homily for Sr Stan – Bro Richard Hendrick
Notes to Editors
Read the Full Statement from the Religious Sisters of Charity – HERE
About AMRI
AMRI is the representative and support organisation of approximately 155+ Religious Institutes, Societies of Apostolic Life and Missionary Organisations. Our membership is diverse, from small congregations to global missionary congregations, from enclosed contemplatives to active lay missionaries.
(More on www.amri.ie)
About the Religious Sisters of Charity
The Religious Sisters of Charity was founded in Ireland in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead. The Sisters went out into their local communities to support and help the poor. Mary Aikenhead was a pioneer and innovator in addressing the unmet needs of people who were poor in her day. She laid the basis for an inclusive Irish health system when she opened St Vincent’s Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in Ireland that freely cared for and attended to the needs of the poor.
Since their foundation, the Sisters have served for over two hundred years in healthcare, education and social/pastoral care. The Sisters have continued to search for innovative ways to provide services that meet the needs of the poor today, including the homeless, prisoners, asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants.
