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By Theresia Titus
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has issued an edict calling anyone who can testify to support Eileen O’Connor’s cause for canonisation.
“I call upon any and all of the faithful of this Archdiocese of Sydney, who may have useful information regarding the Servant of God, to bring such documents, materials or information to my attention,” Archbishop Fisher wrote via a media statement issued on 23 October.
Speaking to The Record, Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor Project Leader for the Eileen O’Connor Project, Sr Margaret Mary OLN, hopes the edict “will reignite the memory of everyone who has ever heard of Eileen O’Connor or who have ever known the sisters” from Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, a religious order cofounded by the Servant of God and Fr Edward McGrath MSC in Coogee, NSW.
“This is their opportunity to tell their own stories about how their lives or the lives of others have been touched by Eileen O’Connor,” she said.
“Perhaps they have a devotion to Eileen or believe that they have received graces from God because of her intercession? These are the types of the stories that the Archdiocese needs to hear.”
Sr Mary also wishes that Eileen’s journey to sainthood “draws people back to their faith and closer to God”.
“Little Mother was – and remains so – a beautiful and joyous light who points the way to Jesus,” she uttered.
“We hope that those who learn of Eileen’s life and witness come to recognise the mercy of God, who is always ready and waiting to receive His children into His loving arms.”
Eileen Rosaline O’Connor was born in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Richmond, on 19 February 1982.
She suffered from a severe curvature of the spine caused by a fall from a pram at the age of three and also from transverse myelitis – constant nerve pain of the spinal cord.
She and her family moved to Sydney at the age of 10 and despite her condition, she co-founded Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor in April 1913.
In announcing Eileen’s title – Servant of God – Archbishop Fisher mentioned that by today’s standards, many would look at Eileen’s immense suffering as “lacking in dignity, value or hope”.
“That she is on her way to possibly being our next saint, shows even a short life, marked by incredible suffering, can be an inspiration to all and reminds us of the dignity of every human life,” Archbishop Fisher said.
Sr Mary affirmed that Eileen “embraced her suffering and recognised what graces and blessings it could bring to Our Lady’s work.
“[Through] her willingness to devote her suffering to Our Lord for the sake of Our Lady’s work, her suffering became something of value and meaning – and so she was able to continue this wonderful work, even when she was suffering greatly herself,” she said.
“Eileen shows us that even the most fragile and pained of lives can be, not just satisfying, but, indeed, happy – and that each one of us is able to offer something of great beauty to this world, no matter how small or frail or poor or weak we are.”
Sr Mary believed that by instilling the importance of compassion at her religious order: “Eileen wants us to help people regain her dignity”.
She also hopes the Australian public are able “to hear and reflect upon a beautiful story about a young woman with disabilities, who despite limited education or theological training, had the faith and perseverance to establish a ministry of compassionate service to the sick poor in their own home”.
“That she had just eight years to lay the foundations for both a medical service and a religious society, before she died at just 28 years of age,” Sr Mary added.
“I hope that everyone, upon hearing this story, will recognise that the faith, religion and the call of charity remain just as relevant in today’s society as they have been for thousands of years.”