Sr Juliana O’Neill was devoted to St Therese

SISTER Juliana O’Neill passed away peacefully recently at St Columban’s Nursing Home, Magheramore.

A proud Dubliner, Sister Julie was born on October 3 of 1934. She was the second youngest of a large family.

Her birthday was on the feast of St Therese and it was on that Feast Day that she entered Missionary Sisters of St Columban Congregation in 1957. Julie had a lifelong devotion to St Therese and she chose as her motto ‘Love is repaid by love alone’ which was the essence of St Therese’s spirituality.

Julie’s vocation to the Columbans was thanks to her meeting a Columban Sister when she was in St Vincent’s hospital. When Julie began her life as a Columban, her companions included a Korean, two Chinese as well as other Irish young women.

After her profession in 1960 she was assigned to the catering service in Magheramore for two years. Incidentally, her group were the first to enter Magheramore after the transfer from Cahircon. Already her culinary and creative gifts and her love of nature were being recognised. Her beautiful singing voice was much appreciated as she enhanced the community liturgy and other festivities.

Julie’s mission assignment was to Korea, a country still recovering from the effects of the Korean War. It was a country with great needs. Her first assignment was to Sam Chok, a city in the east coast of the country where the sisters had a clinic and an outreach programme. Here, while studying the language she took care of the catering for the community and the clinic staff.

For the next 13 years, Julie continued her ministry in Mokpo and Seoul. Her great organisational ability, creativity and her welcoming and cheerful attitude endeared her to the Korean people.

As local superior in Mokpo and Regional Superior for the Region, Julie constantly strove to provide and promote more vibrant communities and through her creativity and giftedness in Liturgical preparation, and her beautiful singing voice she helped all celebrate with joy the various liturgical feasts and our own special days.

At the 1981 Chapter, Julie was elected as one of the Central Leadership Team (CLT). For the following six years through visiting various Missions, Julie shared her life and her giftedness with her Sisters worldwide. On completion of her term on the CLT, Julie studied in the US for one year to enhance her Missionary work.

She returned to Korea in 1991 and remained there until 2006. During this time she carried the role of Regional Bursar. One of Julie’s great dreams for Korea was for the acceptance of Korean candidates into the Congregation. During this final period in Korea she had the joy of seeing this dream come to fruition.

Another great joy for her was seeing Cardinal Kim lead the Church in Korea, so single mindedly. Julie was a great admirer of the cardinal and had met him on numerous occasions. She always carried a photo of him on her.

In 2006, Julie came to Ireland for treatment of some health problems. As her health began to deteriorate, she who loved a good chat and spending quality time with friends and family, and who loved to sing, gradually lost her ability to do so.

As her ill-health progressed Julie’s ability to do anything for herself gradually deteriorated. In the past 12 years, the Sisters, her family and the nursing and caring staff in Magheramore surpassed themselves in the respect and dignity they showed in caring for Julie.

She is predeceased by her brothers Charlie, Pat, Tommy and Larry and sisters Rita (Pugh), May (Power) and Eileen (Hyett).

Her funeral mass held in the Convent Chapel, Magheramore, was followed by burial in the convent cemetery.