Do we always have to wait until there is a special celebration or occasion to raise the status of women? At one stage in society, after World War II, women began to show their face and became the names in business and even in the political world. Their work in the most fundamental industries of holding the country together during the time of war, not only in the fields and factories but in a strong hidden workforce, working as clerical staff and even as operators of some cryptanalysis and translators, offering information during critical decisions of breaking codes during a very crucial time of the Second World War.
Even in the Church, it took many centuries to recognise the sanctity and the giftedness of women, despite many being supported by male counterparts and joined ministries in the Religious Life. Recently, we celebrated 100 years of ministry in the north of Ireland, amidst a time of political diversity and change. The gift of writing journals and recording the first years of their journey puts them on the pedestal of perseverance and women of a courageous mission. Their presence in the north despite some very unsettling first years of offering education, certainly opened the road to RNDM mission: women with a purpose. Each day was recorded in their journals to enable us to journey with them 100 years later and to celebrate their hidden and often unknown trials and set-backs. But they soldiered on and the response to our celebration said it all: those early years and great women were worthy of celebration.
Let’s celebrate women!
Let us praise these valiant women
whose hearts reached out in joy,
to give in love and service
and never count the cost.
