Late Sr Jacinta Cullinan ‘a truly wonderful and inspirational lady’
The late Sr Jacinta Cullinan.
“A truly wonderful and inspirational lady who dedicated her life to the service of others especially children with additional needs,” is how many will remember the late Sr Jacinta Cullinan who passed away last week.
Formerly of Ballinagare, and McAuley House, Roscommon Town, Sr. Jacinta passed away peacefully on November 21st last at Mullingar General Hospital.
Remembered fondly by so many, the former principal of St. Michael’s School in Castlerea has been described as “a fearless courageous compassionate generous legend who was a voice for her special needs community by transforming their lives through education and love, giving them a sense of purpose hope and dignity. She made a difference to the lives of many people she encountered in her lifetime. A life well lived.” Remarking on her life as she celebrated the 50th anniversary of her profession to religious life in 2010, the late Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin recalled: “Jacinta was born the fourth child of Michael and Catherine Cullinan in 1935. They are both with the Lord now. Her oldest brother died at birth and her brother Mike died at the age of twelve “Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s young people usually entered religious life at seventeen or eighteen years of age after leaving secondary school. Jacinta suffered much illness as a young girl growing up and she tells us that it was as a patient in Cappagh Hospital that she began to hear in her heart the Call of the Lord to Religious Life. The witness of the Sisters and staff had a profound influence on her.
“Jacinta studied as a boarder at Saint Peter’s Secondary School Athlone. After her Leaving Certificate in 1953, though still contemplating religious life, she was offered a job as receptionist in Carrick-on-Shannon.
“From Carrick-on-Shannon Jacinta went to work for a short time in Limerick but at this stage the call to religious life became very strong and loud and so, on December 8th, 1957, at the age of twenty two, Jacinta Cullinan became a postulant in the Mercy Community.
“In 1961 Sister Jacinta qualified as a primary teacher in Carysfort College and came back to Sligo for her final profession in 1963. It was at this time that I first came to know Sister Jacinta personally. She was always so welcoming to meet – always full of energy and warmth. Her first appointment was as primary teacher in the Convent of Mercy School, Pearse Road, Sligo. During her years teaching there she worked at night at St Anne’s Youth Centre which is owned and funded by the Mercy Community. She is still remembered in Sligo for her magnificent ministry among the poorest of the poor each night in that Youth Club. Young boys and girls very often deprived of love and care in their own homes experienced a sense of being wanted, being valued, being loved – a sense of their own self-esteem and self-worth because of the care of Sr Jacinta and her staff. She was a first class primary teacher but I would say her greatest work was in that youth centre.
“Sister Jacinta went from Sligo to teach in the primary school in Elphin and then was appointed to work with children with special needs. How versatile can any one person be – a primary school teacher, a youth worker in an urban youth club, and finally a ministry to children with special needs. I remember when I heard of her change to Castlerea to special needs saying to myself – what a religious, what obedience and what generosity with such a variety of gifts.
“I believe that Sister Jacinta enjoyed every ministry that she exercised in the diocese as a Sister of Mercy. But I am absolutely certain that she experienced her greatest joy of all in St. Michael’s Castlerea when she worked with the young people with special needs. She received many prestigious awards from her ministry in Castlerea and indeed throughout the county but nothing gave her greater joy than the achievements and awards of the children themselves because that gave them confidence to make greater progress with their own lives.” She was predeceased by her parents Michael and Catherine, brothers Frank, Bartley and Michael (Miko) and her sisters Gretta and Teresa. Jacinta will be very sadly missed by her sister Anne O’Neill, sisters-in-law Rhona Cullinan and Teresa Cullinan, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews, by her many relatives and friends, the Mercy Sisters Western Province, her community in McAuley House and her colleagues and friends in St Michael’s School, Castlerea.
Following removal to the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon for Mass of the Resurrection on Saturday burial took place in Drummin Cemetery, Ballingare, Castlerea.
