Sisters of Saint Joseph of Annecy

SISTER THOMASINA O’DRISCOLL.

Thomasina Clare O’Driscoll was born in Cardiff on the 16th October 1930 to Frances, née Cahalane, and Michael O’Driscoll, both from south-west Cork, Frances from Ballineen and Michael from Courtmacsherry. Though born in Cardiff and spending three decades in India, Thomasina’s roots were firmly Irish.

Frances and Michael had six daughters including twins born in Ireland who sadly died as babies. Her faither was a sea captain in the Merchant Navy and the family moved to Cardiff where Mary and Peggy, also twins, followed by Geraldine and Thomasina, were born. Another great sorrow was the death at the age of 15 of Mary. The O’Driscolls settled in Heathfield Road where they became very active members of St. Joseph’s parish, served then, as now by the Rosminian Order. Thomasina and her sisters were very involved in various parish groups and societies and enjoyed the many social events which formed an important part of parish life at that time.

The Sisters of St. Joseph were also established in the parish, having arrived five years before Thomasina’s birth. The Sisters taught in the primary school which Thomasina and her sisters attended for a few years before moving on to St. Joseph’s Convent School on North Road, where Sister Finbarr was the headmistress and would be a great influence on Thomasina. This early association with the Sisters was further developed by the fact that their aunt was Mother Fintan, a formidable character. Another connection was their uncle, Fr. Cahalane, the parish priest of Cwmbran, a parish which included Llantarnam Abbey and the Sisters. So the scene was set.

As Thomasina enjoyed her teenage years, she also began to discern a vocation to religious life. With the reluctant agreement of her family, she entered Llantarnam Abbey on the 8th September 1948. Her companions were Srs. Patrick Joseph, Thecla and Joan – all Irish! Mother Walburga was their novice mistress. After the initial two years of formation, she received the religious habit on the 30th April 1949, and the name ‘Sr. St. Michael’. She made her First Profession on the 1st May 1950, then returned to Cardiff for a three-year teacher training course. This could not have been easy as Sister had left only two years before as a schoolgirl and was now in community with the Sisters who had taught her.

However, further discernment had taken place within the soul of Thomasina during these years and after praying, consulting and making known her desire, Thomasina’s request was granted and preparation began for her journey to India. Needless to say, her family were dismayed but accepted this in faith, wondering when they would see her again. In September 1953, she set off, not at first to India but to the Motherhouse in Annecy for a six-month preparation course which included learning French, a language in which Thomasina became very proficient. These months at the very heart of the Congregation were invaluable for Thomasina. When, in March 1954, she flew to India – one of the first Sisters to do so - Thomasina was ready and longing for her new mission. Known as Sr. St. Michael, she spent 8 years teaching in Waltair followed by 20 years as a teaching head in Cuttack, as well as completing a degree in education.

A great joy to Thomasina during her years in India were the visits of her family. Sister would speak of the joy she felt at seeing her sisters, nieces and nephews walking towards her from the plane. Joy, and also sorrow, for during these years her mother died, and she was unable to attend her funeral.

During her years in India, Thomasina did return to visit her family and the Sisters, but in 1982 after three decades of apostolate in India Thomasina returned for good. It is never easy to adapt to a new apostolate and a new community. In Thomasina’s case, the normal difficulties were compounded by the vast differences between the culture she had left and the culture to which she returned, a culture which had changed radically in the three decades of her absence. After a period of rest, prayer and discernment, Thomasina embarked on a completely new series of apostolates, all of which called forth her many gifts, experiences and training.

The first few years were spent between Llantarnam Abbey, involved in community life, and Devizes as a parish sister. In 1986, Thomasina undertook the headship of St. Joseph’s Convent School in Cardiff, a return to her alma mater after 40 years! Sister was close to her family again and they were delighted. It was at this time that Sr. St. Michael, given the opportunity, reverted to her baptismal name of Thomasina. It was a sad day when the school closed in 1993, but also an opportunity for Thomasina to branch out in another direction.

The year 1993-94 was spent at university in Lausanne, in preparation for her role as translator at the General Chapter in Annecy in 1994. This was a very special and enjoyable experience for Thomasina, one which enabled her to not only translate at the chapter but also for many years after to translate our congregational documents and communications.

New pastures were calling and from 1994-2010 Thomasina was director of fundraising for St. Anne’s Hospice. For this new venture, Sister completed a course in fundraising. Through major campaigns, legacies, marketing and public relations, her work in this area, aided by many hard-working, loyal and generous helpers, proved very successful. As Sister had completed a computerised accounts course, she also kept the Malpas House accounts.

When the hospice was no longer ours, Thomasina turned to other ways of carrying out the Gospel message and began teaching English to Eastern Europeans in the Institute next to St. Mary’s Church in Newport. She would also take time to speak with and give help to the homeless on the streets of Newport and kept in touch with many of her former pupils.

In later years as Sister’s health failed, she was unable to engage in the apostolates she loved and she moved to the Abbey to receive the extra care she needed. With the closure of the Abbey, Sister moved to our new convent in New Inn where she received great care and love from the Sisters and nursing staff. Both at the Abbey and in New Inn, Thomasina’s friends remembered her and visited her.

Sister Thomasina died in the early hours of Sunday, 13th October, the feast of our Lady of Fatima. May she rest in the peace and joy of the Lord whom she served so well and rise in his glory.