Dear Members of the Stuartholme Community
I am writing to you with great sadness as we struggle to come to terms with the loss of one of our dearly beloved rscJ Sisters, Sr Philomene Tiernan, on the Malaysian Airline MH 17 tragedy last Friday.
Sr Carroll rscJ and Sr Bannon rscJ composed this piece yesterday for The Catholic Leader and I would like to use their words about Sr Tiernan:
Sr Mary Philomene Tiernan rscJ was born in Murgon and completed her secondary education as a Boarder at Stuartholme School, Brisbane. After a year studying Arts at the University of Queensland, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart at Rose Bay Convent, Sydney. After making her first vows, she returned to Stuartholme as a teacher before making her final profession in Rome. Sr Tiernan completed her Arts degree at Macquarie University and she studied theology in Chicago. In the course of Sr Tiernan’s life, she has been a Teacher, Boarding Director at Stuartholme School and Kincoppal Rose Bay School, Formation Director for young religious, Spiritual Director, Congregational Leader of the ANZ Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart and Chancellor for the Broken Bay Diocese.
Throughout all these ministries, Sr Tiernan has touched the lives of many people through her evident love of God and an extraordinary capacity to relate to people at a heart level and win their confidence. Due to the strong, personal international links in the Society of the Sacred Heart, some of which she renewed during her recent sabbatical studies, Sr Tiernan had friends in many parts of the world, all of whom will deeply feel her loss.
We gathered together as a school community yesterday to pray the Rosary for Sr Tiernan. Students and staff have been invited to write prayers and messages for Sr Tiernan and to Sr Tiernan, and a special Cross has been set up to enable this.
Some members of the Stuartholme community are representing Stuartholme at a Memorial Mass being held in Sydney this Friday. Stuartholme will be holding its own Memorial Mass in the next few weeks and we are negotiating with the Sisters and with Sr Tiernan’s family about the best possible date. All members of our community and extended community will be notified about this celebration of Sr Tiernan’s life via our Website and Facebook pages.
We look to the example of the Sisters for the courage and confidence to respond to the tragic loss of Sr Tiernan. Please keep Sr Tiernan, all rscJ, Sr Tiernan’s family and all who knew and loved her in your prayers during this sad and challenging time.
Yours in the spirit of Cor Unum
Andree Rice
Acting Principal
