A group of five African nuns were formally welcomed to the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin at a special Mass in Kildare town parish church yesterday, writes Patsy McGarry, Religious Affairs Correspondent.
The nuns will be part of ongoing efforts in the diocese to develop a ministry to its large migrant population.
At the invitation of Bishop James Moriarty, the sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ Missionary Order, have taken up residence in Kildare in a house formerly occupied by the De la Salle brothers.
Fr Adrian Carbery, parish priest in Kildare, said he looked forward "to the mutual enrichment that will take place for us all".
Order superior Sr Merilyn Umunnakwe said: "Our home- coming to Ireland, the land of our founding father Archbishop Heerey, is the realisation of a long-term dream of the sisters.
"We look forward to working with the parish and the diocese in furthering the development of a ministry to the many people who have come from different parts of the world to settle here in Kildare and in the surrounding areas."
The order was founded in 1937 by Archbishop Charles Heerey, from Co Cavan. His vision was to raise the status of women in an environment where only boys went to school and to provide education and support for Christian family life. It currently has a presence in Africa, Italy, Germany, England, Canada, America and the Caribbean.