AFTER 70 years of loyal and dedicated service, most people would be
excused if they opted to sit back and rest on their laurels but Sr
Monica Kirby, who turns 90 in July, has no intention of slowing down.
Sr Monica celebrated her remarkable milestone with family, friends and a very supportive congregation on 2 May at Sts John and Paul Parish in Willetton where she has been based for the past 21 years.
She was presented with flowers and a special cake after Mass on behalf of the many who have been on the receiving end of her love during her seven-decade journey. In an interview with The Record, Sr Monica fondly recalled her childhood in Northam, 100km east of Perth, as the second of eight children.
Raised in an environment of family prayer, including a weekly 12 mile horse and buggy ride to Mass, and inspired by the Sisters who taught her, Sr Monica entered the Order of St Joseph of the Apparition in Fremantle when she was 17.
She then spent over four decades mainly teaching primary and lower secondary students across WA, as well as in Victoria, a vocation that she loved and remembers with great affection.
Simon Bowen, a former student of Sr Monica and now a fellow parishioner at Willetton, remembers her as a much-loved and respected teacher, “… Who seemed to have eyes in the back of her head … and the side … and sometimes even on the wall behind us!”
“She still has the same spark, energy and commitment today as she did back then”, he added, “… and now she is impacting on my own children by the example she sets. She is amazing.”
Parish priest Fr Thai Vu also expressed admiration for Sr Monica’s zest for life when he told those gathered, “I am a third of her age and I would love to have the energy and drive that she has today,” he said.
Sr Monica arrived at Sts John and Paul Parish in 1989 at an age when most people have already retired. She has spent the past two decades dedicating herself to pastoral and administrative work and, still driving herself around, continues to be involved in many of the ministries offered by one of Perth’s largest parishes.
Her commitment and outreach of love has been an inspiration and blessing for many and both family members and parishioners were full of glowing praises for her during the Sunday morning celebrations. Fellow pastoral worker Mildred Rego has always been impressed by her tireless work ethic and humility. “At every team meeting, Sr Monica would always state that she was only doing ordinary things, such as taking Communion to the sick, visiting and attending funerals, but she could sometimes be doing these things eight to ten times each week,” she said.
Not comfortable in the limelight, Sr Monica’s humble attitude mirrors that of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition foundress St Emilie de Vialar, who lived by the adage, “My only desire is to accomplish God’s will”.
However, Sr Monica is adamant that in order to do this one must be constantly vigilant of their priorities. “All ministries depend on prayer”, she says. “One has to be very disciplined in their prayer life or the busyness of life can take you away”.
When Sr Monica was invited to address the Willetton community during her 70th celebrations she began with the words, “The Lord has done great things for me, holy is His name”. But for the many who have been the beneficiaries of her lifetime of service to God, they would most likely want to add, “And the Lord has also done great things through her”.