Monday, 11 June 2012 09:45

RIP SISTER MARY CONSOLATA fdnsc

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On the evening of 3rd June, after a very  long life and a comparatively short illness, Sr Mary Consolata died at the St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility, Kensington.

Angela McKay, known as Sister Mary Consolata, was born on 6th August 1914 the third of five children.She went to school at Yarraville.

At St Aloysius, North Melbourne, she completed a commercial course. She subsequently entered the novitiate at Bowral at the age of 20 in 1935.

Sister’s teaching ministry was to extend over approximately 20 years from Coolangatta in Queensland to Alice Springs, Bellingen, Bowraville, Elmore in Victoria, Kilburn in South Australia and Queenstown in Tasmania.  She spent 15 years, in all, at OLSH Boarding College at Bowral. Sister is remembered by them, especially, for her kindness and care.  Sister also assisted at our Education and Spirituality Centre at Hartzer Park and undertook pastoral duties at Mascot for almost twenty years. It was also during this time that she received a Citation in recognition of her outstanding service to the City of Botany Bay.

Sister was an incredibly generous and apostolic woman whose only answer to anything that was asked of her was ‘yes’!  Her joy was infectious and her gratitude boundless.

May she rest in peace!

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A group of former students of OLSH, Bowral,

at the funeral mass. Peter Harvey Jackson MSC

at right.


For the funeral eulogy, click Read More.

I believe that nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage

of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

These words from Paul’s letter to the Philippians speak of the life and death of Sr Mary Consolata McKay.  On the evening of 3rd June, after a very  long life and a comparatively short illness, Sr Mary Consolata went home to the God whom she loved and served so faithfully.  We offer our sympathy to her nephew, John, her close friends, our sisters and especially those at St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility.

Angela McKay, known to us as Sister Mary Consolata, was born on 6th August 1914 to James and Mary McKay in Footscray, Victoria. The third of five children, her sisters and brothers have predeceased her.

Sister’s early childhood was spent in the country which she loved and experienced as peaceful.  She went to school at Yarraville.  When she was in Grade 2 the family moved to the city to live in West Melbourne.   Here, her parents ran a family business.  Her early secondary education was at St Mary’s, West Melbourne and then Sister went on to St Aloysius, North Melbourne, where she completed a commercial course.

Sister Consolata admired her teachers who were Sisters of Mercy and whom she termed real religious. As a young woman she joined the Children of Mary and went frequently to morning Mass.  A significant influence in her life was the faith of her mother.  Her father, who was not a Catholic, went to Mass with the family.  It was devotion of Our Lady and the Mass that, in her teens, nurtured Sister’s faith.

As evidenced by her long life, Sister Consolata was a strong woman.  No doubt the experience of living through the depression and two world wars, had a significant impact on her life. While her family were able to keep poverty free, her parents were tied up with work in the family business and Sister notes that during this time she missed family gatherings and spent time looking after her little brother and sisters.

As time went on, Sister began to wish she could be a nun. It was through the Annals that she first got in touch with the MSC’s and then the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.  In her letter of application she wrote:  I will be 21 on the 6th August and I have saved 12 pounds. I was educated at St Mary’s school West Melbourne and I work as a typist and shorthand writer.  I am a daily communicant.  I shall look forward to your reply. As ever, Sr Consolata was one to come straight to the point!  She subsequently entered the novitiate at Bowral at the age of 20 in 1935.

Sister recalls feeling at home in the novitiate. Prayer and community and especially adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the First Sunday retreat day, she loved.  She also recalls enjoying walks with her companions in the fresh country air.

After her profession, Sister  Consolata continued her education and commenced teaching in primary school as well as using her skills in teaching commercial classes.  It must have been no mean feat going from teaching Infants to Commercial in a number of her appointments! Sister’s teaching ministry was to extend over approximately 20 years from Coolangatta in Queensland to Alice Springs, Bellingen, Bowraville, Elmore in Victoria, Kilburn in South Australia and Queenstown in Tasmania.  She spent 15 years, in all, at OLSH Boarding College at Bowral, where she is fondly remembered by students some of whom are with us today. Sister is remembered by them, especially, for her kindness and care.  Sister also assisted at our Education and Spirituality Centre at Hartzer Park and undertook pastoral duties at Mascot for almost twenty years. In Mascot again Sister was greatly loved by those she visited, for whom she showed care and to whom she offered friendship. During these years she also studies scripture, completed a chatechist training course and taught religious education in state schools.  She received an service award for over 15 years of outstanding service to religious education for Catholic students in State Schools. It was also during this time that she received a Citation in recognition of her outstanding service to the City of Botany Bay.

Sister was an incredibly generous and apostolic woman whose only answer to anything that was asked of her was ‘yes’!  Nothing was ever a trouble for her. She was also on the lookout for the needs of her sisters in community and was often able to provide what they needed. She readily laughed and was never, ever without a smile. It didn’t matter the time of day, the situation or the circumstance, Sister would always greet you with an expansive smile! Her joy was infectious and her gratitude boundless.

Gifted with a life that spanned so many years, Sister saw incredible changes in religious life: the change from a monastic to a freer lifestyle – from being told what to do to being given a choice. As she herself says, she was content under the rule of a Mother Superior and unencumbered with the need to make many decisions. Indeed, it could be said that Sister’s life was unencumbered. She was without guile. Sister Consolata lived a life of simplicity, humility, joy, gratitude and single minded devotion to her Lord.  Always she prayed for vocations to the religious life.

After a relatively short illness, God called his Beloved Sister Consolata home to enjoy the fullness of life in the radiance of his presence.  I can imagine her twinkling with laughter as she met her God whom she loved and served so faithfully throughout her long life. I’m sure she would have a very good story ready to tell her God!

Thank you Sister for your love and unswerving fidelity! We rejoice that your deepest longing is now fulfilled and that you are looking on the face of the One you loved so well throughout your life. May you rest in peace!