MERIDEN, CT (08-15-2024) – Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish in Cheshire, Connecticut, an active parish serving over 3,000 households, honored Sister Mary Rose Irvine, FSE on Sunday, August 11 at a farewell reception. Sister Mary Rose ministered as a pastoral associate the past three years and has been reassigned by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to a new mission. Reverend Jeffrey V. Romans, pastor, in his bulletin announcement of Sister’s leaving, praised Sister Mary Rose as a “guiding light in our parish family.” He voiced the sentiment of many parishioners as he acknowledged that Sister Mary Rose “has brought such an incredible amount of wisdom, enthusiasm and passion for helping our parish family to grow in faith. We have truly been blessed to have her ministry among us.”
The parish served a decorative cake in honor of Sister Mary Rose at the reception where parishioners offered their gratitude to her. One parishioner expressed her appreciation as she said, “You added so much to St. Bridget’s. Your hard work and efforts seemed effortless as you did everything with a smile.” A married couple simply shared, “You have filled our lives with so much joy!”
Father Romans enumerated several initiatives and programs Sister Mary Rose coordinated, “She was very busy throughout the year leading book studies, bible studies, video series, adult education evenings, working with the homebound, running bus trips, assisting with numerous ministries, and so much more. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to her for bringing the ChristLife Program to our parish family and for all that this program has done to help parishioners develop and deepen a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Sister Mary Rose is in the “temporary vows” phase of her religious formation in the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. “Temporary vows” means she has professed the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for a limited amount of time, such as for three years, while continuing to be formed to someday profess perpetual (lifetime) vows. Sister Mary Rose is from Nebraska and met the Franciscan Sisters while studying at the University of Nebraska – Kearney where she was involved in the St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center.
