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Two remarkable Glasgow Franciscan Sisters
Two remarkable Glasgow-born mh Franciscan Sisters
Isabel Kelly was born in Milngavie on January 31st 1934. She had three sisters, only one of whom, Margaret, is still alive. After leaving school she studied shorthand and typing, and then in 1952 joined the Women’s Royal Navy and spent four years as a WREN. In December 1956 she began her long life as a Franciscan Missionary of St Joseph. She was appointed to Sarawak, Malaysia, and for 14 years taught in schools in Kuching and Sibu, and in the neighbouring state of Brunei. During this time she also followed a Catechetical course in Manila, the Philippines. Back in UK she began a three year teacher training course in London. In 1979 she was appointed to Kenya where she worked in schools in Marigat and Rangala. Four years later she was appointed to Ecuador where she worked among the poor in Quito, and in the coastal city of Guayaquil.
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Sr Isabel Kelly
[As a member of the MHM General Council I visited our missionaries in Ecuador at this time. Since my flight to Guayaquil had a three-hour stopover in Quito, the Sisters had asked me to bring them a parcel and
said they would meet me at the airport; one of the Quito sisters was Sr Isabel, the other Sr Moira Geary (see below.) Moira had to leave, but Isabel stayed chatting with me until my flight was called. While waiting a party of travellers arrived who were on their way to the Galapagos Islands. Overhearing our Glasgow accidents, a couple came over to talk with us. Isabel spoke of her work among the poor – and this couple were deeply moved (and somewhat embarrassed) to be part of an expensive luxury holiday group. They promised they would send a cheque to support her work! Ed.] Sr Isabel was then appointed to the Blackburn FMSJ community, and for 21 years was Chaplain to the Blackburn Royal Hospital. In 1985 she was appointed as ‘Justice and Peace Co-ordinator’ for the Congregation. In 1999 she was elected to the Congregation’s General Council for six years, which involved visits to Kenya and Borneo. She became deeply involved in work against human trafficking, travelling all over the country to give talks on Justice and Peace issues. She raised funds for the Medaille Trust which provides safe houses for women who have been trafficked. In the ‘Year of Mercy’ she was often seen at the Mercy Bus – handing out miraculous medals, listening to people, and encouraging them to return to the practice of their faith. She did lots of writing, keeping contact with people, writing poems and prayers which she made into leaflets to give
Sr Isabel in Borneo.
to hospital patients. She was a woman of great integrity, sensitivity, and humour. In 2019 she was diagnosed with bone cancer, but continued her ministries until the Covid Pandemic took hold. Even then she continued to minister by phone. She was sustained by her life of prayer, and her devotion to Padre Pio.
Moira Geary was born in Glasgow on 18th January 1932. She studied at the West of Scotland Commercial College, and entered the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph in 1953. Four years later she was appointed to what was then called ‘British North Borneo’ where she taught in various schools run by the FMSJ’s. In 1969 she
Sr Moira Geary.
followed a year-long pastoral course in the Philippines. Back in UK she worked in the Mission Secretariat at Mill Hill, and in the overseasstudent hostel. In 1981 she was elected to the General Council and then became Secretary General. Nine years later she was appointed to Ecuador, where she worked with the poor in Quito (alongside Sr Isabel Kelly), and later in Guayquil. Another Sister who worked with her in Guayaqil wrote: “Each day had a drama of its own ranging from emergencies in the dispensary to tragedies in local families and Government coups. Sr Moira gave stability to our lives with her ‘business as usual’ approach, set times for prayer and for meals – no matter what was happening. She was much loved by the people and easily communicated her sense of humour…Through her steely determination she navigated the mound of red tape and bureaucracy in setting up and running new buildings. She was forward-thinking, and her wisdom will be greatly missed.” Moira returned to UK in 2011 where she worked in the Generalate until a fall necessitated her transfer to the community in Blackburn in 2017. She suffered from Parkinsons disease and became increasingly frail and dependent on the staff for her daily living. She died on June 7th 2021.
In one of her poems Sr Isabel wrote:
