The month of March 2024 has been a very significant time for two Cork born Irish Citizens. The media have made Cillian Murphy, winner of the 2024 Oscar for best Actor in the film Oppenheimer known to us all. However, our hero of March 2024 is Sister Miriam Twohig who reached her 100th birthday on March 14th. Sister is resident in Marymount Older Care Services and a member of St Anthony’s Community. Her family spent some months organising a family reunion planned to take place in a hotel on March 2nd. However, because of a recent chest infection, Miriam’s doctor advised that the party be held in Marymount. About thirty nieces, nephews, and cousins gathered in Marymount for the afternoon and a very enjoyable celebration took place in the restaurant area. Thankfully Miriam was well enough to enjoy every moment of it. Some wonderful photos are a record of the achievement.
On March 14th, the actual birthday she was well enough for the community celebration in St Anthony’s. Bishop John Buckley, retired Bishop of Cork and Ross and a former pupil of Sister Miriam’s father who was a teacher in the primary school in Inchigeela, West Cork, was celebrant for Mass at 12.30 p.m. The 1st reading for the Mass was chosen by Miriam. ‘I never stop thanking God for all the graces… ‘ 1st Corinthians 1:3-9. The theme of thanksgiving was evident throughout the liturgy, concluding with the hymn ‘Now thank we all our God’
Bishop Buckley joined the community for a celebratory lunch. The dining room was decorated with the Cork colours of Red and White. This included balloons, flowers and the birthday cake. In the afternoon, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, joined us for the cutting of the birthday cake and to present Miriam with a papal blessing which had been arranged by one of her nieces.
The wording on the papal blessing “His Holiness Pope Francis cordially imparts his blessing to Sister Miriam Twohig on the happy occasion of her hundredth birthday. His Holiness prays that Sister Miriam will always find great joy and peace in her religious consecration to our Lord Jesus Christ and that her life of service in the Church will continue to contribute to the growth of the Kingdom of God”
She was overjoyed to know that Pope Francis was praying for her. Miriam is a gifted musician and had been a member of the choir in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St Anne for many, many years. Two members of the choir called in to join the celebration and to wish her well on behalf of the choir. One might wonder why a small community celebration had two bishops in attendance! Two of Miriam’s nieces were involved in making preparations for the family celebration and one was in touch with the retired bishop and the other in touch with the Diocesan office and the current Bishop’s secretary. Bishop Buckley celebrates Mass a few times a month for our community and it seemed appropriate to invite him for Mass on 14th. Bishop Fintan Gavin was conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation on children in Mayfield (a nearby parish) and suggested he could call to congratulate her in the afternoon.
In the late afternoon, Miriam returned back to Marymount, delighted with her celebration and bringing some of her birthday cake for the staff and other residents. It seemed that the community members were more tired at the end of the day than Sister Miriam herself. We thank God for a wonderful celebration of a great Sister of Charity, a Cork woman and a devoted historian on the life of Mary Aikenhead. She has over the years conducted many ‘Trails’, walking in the footsteps of our beloved Foundress here in the city of Cork.
