Tribute to Sister Maureen Banyard FMDM

Sister Maureen Banyard

We all have memories; we all have unique memories of our dear Maureen.

Maureen was born in Westminster, London in 1931. She spoke little of her early life, though she often said her mother taught her to be tough and strong to get on with life, keep the stiff upper lip!

These qualities Maureen carried all her life she never complained about health or challenges. Things that did not appear difficult for her, could be very testing to those around her particularly in her later years, when she needed assistance and support. For her any challenge could be met, any target reached, that was our Maureen!

As a teenager she represented her school running in an athletic competition in Paris. She would casually mention that she fainted before the race, but insisted on competing, she had a responsibility, she was representing her school.

Maureen entered in Mount Alvernia, Guildford in August 1950, following her first profession in 1953, she attended Maria Assumpta College, gaining her teaching certificate from London University. Her specialist subject being spirituality and her dissertation "The Divine Motherhood".

In 1955, Maureen was missioned to Africa, firstly to Wankie in Zimbabwe working in the path lab and dispensary at the Colliery Hospital. Then in Chinyingi in Zambia, using her teaching skills, establishing a mission school.

In September 1960, Maureen set sail for Australia, traveling as a pioneer to Nathalia, with Ann Kiely, Josie Lanigan and Cecelia Walsh, responding to an invitation from Bishop Bernard Stewart of the Sandhurst Diocese, to establish St Mary of the Angels, a new catholic parish school. The school opened the following February, with three classrooms and 125 children.

Maureen, had great enthusiasm for teaching, but as school principal was involved in administration, planning and development of the school at both primary and secondary levels. Parents, parishioners and the local community supported and assisted all the projects. Photographs record the sisters digging foundation trenches, clearing land for new facilities, dealing with floods.

In 2006, Maureen returned to Nathalia, for the occasion of the 45th reunion celebration, during her address, she shared some of her memories. Here are a few:

I loved Nathalia, we started with nothing, the State Primary School Principal, came to our aid with some basic books, pens and pencils. The parents were wonderful and so supportive of our efforts. The children were great, at times there were language difficulties/ misunderstandings. But they knew they were pioneers and responded accordingly.

There were no gardens just rubble around the school, the children prepared the ground, planted grass seed, a gardening club developed, lovely shrubs and flowers planted, a duck and a drake purchased (to deal with the snails), a pond built.

An astronomy club brought a number of students back at night, using a telescope, learning about the night sky. Music, drama, mathematics and folk singing clubs established, there was even a tomato picking club. The children loved sport, some very talented, the school athletic team soon became known as "the flying angels"!

Another club was the HAPPY club, an acronym for Help ageing people profit from youth. It was open to all ages; even little ones could read to someone at home or do chores for those who were housebound.

Maureen remembered the ballet classes she held on Saturday mornings, two memorable performances being, Peach Blossom and Toad of Toad Hall. She recalled searching Melbourne for tutus and ballet shoes, then meeting the kindest Jewish man, she was convinced God led her to his shop. It transpired that in Italy, during the war he and his family were saved from the Nazis by a community of sisters who sheltered them in their convent. He supplied all the lovely tutus and shoes; he never sent a bill!

Maureen did not think of simply building a school with bricks, but the legacy of building a living community, a caring community, a Christian community.

She would be so proud of the current banner on the St Mary of the Angels College's newsletter "We are called to be stewards of God's creation".

To enhance the school profile, Maureen travelled to Melbourne University to study and obtained both a BA, and an MA Degrees in religious studies.

With all of this happening, Maureen an ardent cat and dog lover, still had time to pamper Penny a Pomeranian and Mandy an Australian Silky.

At the 1977 Chapter, Maureen was elected to the Central Leadership Team, with responsibility as formation, caring for sisters in temporary commitment. She had a very special gift of being able find the good in each-one, acknowledge and encourage them to reach their full potential. Cards with a special message, written in her very distinctive writing would arrive as further support and encouragement.

Maureen returned to education in 1983, lecturing students preparing for the priesthood at St John's Seminary Wonersh. Her main subjects catechetics and comparative religions.

Maureen stayed very committed to the co-operation and understanding between different faiths. She tried to instil reverence for all religions, seeking the good and truth in all faiths, at times she could be perceived as radical by traditionalists.

However, Maureen never daunted, tried to help others to see the humanity and equality of all peoples, irrespective of faith, family or origin.

Maureen was passionate at giving her students a lived experience of different faiths. Organising visits to the Jewish Synagogue's both Orthodox and Liberal, including those lead by women Rabbi's, Mosque's and places of worship of Hindus and Sikhs. She made good contacts, so these visits, always included a prayer service and sharing a meal.

Whenever the need arose, Maureen would undertake teaching other subjects, philosophy, scripture and spirituality. She formed lifelong friendships with her students and offered spiritual and practical advice and a listening ear when a discerning companion was needed.

Quoting one student, Maureen was a truly inspirational soul, one did not come across too many in the seminary! She was very faithful at staying in touch in life after seminary. She remained so generous in sharing both her experiences and her wisdom.

Maureen rarely missed an ordination, even if it meant travelling the length of the country, in cold weather to see a student make that blessed step on their journey to the sacrament of priestly ordination.

She loved the social aspects of seminary life, attending gatherings where she would converse and debate robustly with old and new friends alike. Indeed, Maureen made friends easily and considered everyone her special friend.

Maureen could be very forceful in her opinions, holding radical views on priesthood, pastoral roles, women priests, she was ahead of her time, forward thinking. But you had to be prepared, Maureen rarely failed to win a debate.

In recent years, she guided our own fdmdm sisters in catechetics and provided them with a sound foundation in the fundamental doctrines and beliefs of faith while at the same time relating faith, in practical ways to mission and service.

She continued her studies, in 1989, obtaining a Ph.D. from Leicester University, researching and writing her thesis on "The Concept of Glory and the Nature of Man. A study of Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Zoroastrian thought".

Maureen was a member of the Centre for Catholic / Jewish relations under the umbrella of the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales, again sharing her knowledge and insights.

She held part-time Chaplaincy posts at both the London and Sussex Universities. She formed many life-long friends with students and staff. When working in Newman House, Maureen was a fount of wisdom, had excellent insights in tackling dilemmas, when she proposed a way forward, frequently it would be the right one.

Maureen kept in touch with many, by letters, cards, phone calls and emails. She carried their cares in her heart and in her prayers. When writing, her choice of card and message carefully chosen for the recipient.

She enjoyed handmaking cards, which she sold to support two charities, the Red Cross, helping women and children in Syria and a Safe Haven for donkeys in Palestine.

Maureen was devoted to her mother and cared for her most lovingly when she lived in Ferring. Following her mother's death, Maureen adopted several old people (some younger than Maureen) taking them out for coffee, cooking a meal, or staying overnight. Maureen true to her nature, did not want anyone to lonely or in need.

From her mother, Maureen inherited her love of plants, and as many of us know, she had a large collection of garden pots. She could remember where she had purchased each pot and plant and in whose memory. She would spend hours tending her beloved plants.

She loved birds and feeding her birds became a ritual in her daily routine, for some reason she had a particular affinity to crows!

As Maureen became frailer, she needed support of the care staff, she was always gracious, her sense of humour and the light shone in her eyes. She was dearly loved by the staff.

In the last months of her life, Maureen had a faithful companion, Baby, a cat made of white plush fur, inherited from her mother, Baby gave her loving memories and much comfort.

Following a short illness, Maureen died peacefully on the evening of the 30th of September at the of age 91.

Maureen, a member of Churches Together in Sussex wrote an article as a pilgrim poet.

I quote Maureen:

Poetry can be and often is a prophetic voice. Christian poetry in particular contains spiritual insights which can enlighten us on our journey through life. Psalm 139, surely one of the most inspiring of poems, is one of my 'specials'. Its opening words, 'Lord, you have searched me and know me', has the power to put us in a contemplative stance in which, coming closer to God, we discover more about ourselves.

O Lord, you search me and know me.

You yourself know my resting and my rising;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You mark when I walk or lie down;

You know all my ways through and through.

Dear Maureen, you are now in the presence of the Lord, may you rest in peace. Amen.

Moira Olliver fmdm

LINK

See Sr Maureen's Requiem Mass here: www.churchservices.tv/ladywell/archive/recordings/LHRXDN8qaJ0UVhx