100 YEARS AGO TODAY

Negotiations for an Irish FMA foundation had been ongoing from 1918. Numerous letters between Fr Aloysius Sutherland SDB, Mother Chiarina Giustinani, and Bishop Hallinan provide a graphic description of the gestation period of the Salesian Sisters in Ireland.

In a time of unrest and uncertainty, the War of Independence had begun in the previous January, the pioneering Sisters are an inspiration to us as women of courage, self sacrifice, risk takes who were imbued with the spirit of Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello. In the words of Walt Whitman "daring, venturing, as we go the unknown ways, O Pioneers! O Pioneers!"