Sr Mary Conrad Earl - aged 102

Sr Mary Conrad (Margaret Edna) was born on 10 December 1905 at Crows Nest, New South Wales. Her parents were Henry Norbert and Margaret (nee Carmody). She was the third of five children. 

Sr Mary Conrad was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph. She completed a secretarial course and worked in a variety of positions in Sydney.

Sister Mary Seraphina MacRae OP

Sister Mary Seraphina (Gladys) was born on 23 February 1919 at Tamworth N.S.W.  Her parents were Nina and Christopher.  Gladys was the second child; her sisters are Margaret (dec’d) and Catherine, her brothers are Thomas (dec’d) and Clement.  The family lived at Dungowan where her father was a farmer.  Gladys was a boarder at St Dominic’s Tamworth where she completed her Leaving Certificate.

Gladys entered the Dominican Novitiate at Maitland in February 1938 and took first vows as Sister Mary Seraphina in October 1940 and was appointed to teach at Maitland.  She was known to all as Sera.  A series of teaching appointments followed at Star of the Sea Newcastle, San Clemente Mayfield and then she spent further years at Newcastle, Maitland and Mayfield.  Sera spent some time at St. Dominic’s Tamworth in the secondary school, and at Moss Vale.

 In the 1980’s, after forty years of varied educational ministries, Sera experienced the call to live in an area where she could support the disadvantaged.  Sera became a member of the de Porres group at Darlinghurst in a ministry of presence, listening to people, visiting the sick and lonely.  For many years, Sera continued in outreach to others.  Sera was an active member of the Better World Movement.  She was a decisive independent person and in her earlier years was noted for her energy and compassion.  She was a free spirit who related well to students, to her many friends and to those with whom she worked.

In retirement Sera lived at Marian Court Strathfield, at Santa Sabina, then at St Martin de Porres Hostel Waratah and Mt Carmel Hostel Maitland. She died on 2 April 2008.  We thank Sera for her seventy years of commitment to Dominican life.    May she rest in peace. 

Motto – “For the love of Jesus”

Sr Mary Dominica Conaghan OP

Marie Conaghan was born on 16th November 1916 at Rozelle, Sydney. Marie was the fourth child of James and Bridget.  Her brothers were Murray, Jack and Hugh, and her younger sister was Patricia (all dec’d).

On the recommendation of her uncle Rev Denis

Conaghan the family sent Marie and Pat to board at Elm Court Moss Vale for their entire schooling.  A gifted musician Marie gained the award of the Licentiate of Music at the age of 15 and seemed destined for a career in music.

 At the age of seventeen Marie entered the Dominican Order on 19th March 1934 and was professed as Sister Mary Dominica on 28th November 1936.  Sister Mary Dominica was drawn to the Dominicans because of her ten years as a boarder and the example of the Sisters.  In her own words Dominica observed “the Sisters’ evident joy in community living”.  Some of the many Sisters who influenced Dominica were Mother Benvenuta and Sisters Mary Jordan, St Luke and Barbara. In her Dominican life, Dominica taught piano to many young people and prepared choral music.  Her great love was classroom teaching, where she endeared herself to her pupils, particularly when she taught Grades 5 and 6 at St Dominic’s Camberwell Victoria and senior students at Siena Convent.  Siena Convent Camberwell retained a special place in Dominica’s heart because of her many friends, ex-students and the Dominican Fathers.  Many ministries in our schools followed – St Dominic’s Tamworth, San Clemente Mayfield, Elm Court Moss Vale and again at Siena Camberwell.  Dominica was appointed on a number of different occasions to each of these convents where students and ex-students rejoiced in her warmth and interest.  Dominica was Prioress (Community Superior) at San Clemente, Signadou Canberra and Siena Camberwell.  Her leadership was broad minded, hospitable and compassionate. After retirement from school education, Dominica volunteered to be a presence at San Miguel, a special work for homeless women, children and those in need.  Dominica also spent time at the Redemptorists’ Centre at Galong and in community at Prouille Wahroonga and at Santa Sabina. Dominica cherished her Conaghan and Lynch families and was always interested in the lives of their children and grandchildren. 

Sr Mary Dominica’s last years were marked by illness, with all its frustrations, in residence at St Martin’s and Bethel aged care facilities Waratah.  We remember and give thanks for Dominica’s keen sense of humour, her generous loving nature, her thoughtful presence to so many friends, ex-students, her beloved family and her Dominican Sisters who have walked with her for seventy four years.   She died at Waratah on 4 April 2008.

We have been enriched by Dominica’s life of generous and loving fidelity.       May she rest in peace. 

Motto - “Freely Give”