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Margaret
Aylward - Foundress
Margaret
Aylward was born in Waterford in 1810. In her
search for God’s will in her life, she
entered two religious congregations in her earlier
years. Leaving may have seemed a “failure”
at the time, whereas God was forming in faith
a future foundress. She came to live in Dublin
and established a Branch of the Ladies of Charity
of St. Vincent de Paul in the city for visiting
the sick poor.
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Seeing
the urgent need, her focus changed and she founded
St. Brigid's Orphanage - not a residential institution
but a long-term family care system - to provide
fosterage for destitute children in danger of
loss of faith.
"St. Brigid's orphan has a home and a
fireside and calls its foster-parents by the dear
names of father and mother." Schools for the poor and assistance to families
in need were also at the heart of the foundation
years. In 1867, Margaret Aylward, aged 57, and
her fifteen companions were overjoyed when the
Sisters of the Holy Faith received approval as
a religious congregation. |
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Fr.
John Gowan C.M.
In
1852 Margaret first met Fr. John Gowan, a member
of the Vincentian community in Phibsborough,and
this was an event of enormous consequence for
the future. He became her spiritual director,
support and guide. He shared her passion for the
care of the destitute child in danger of loss
of faith. In asking to be involved long-term in
St. Brigid's and in the spiritual formation of
the new Holy Faith congregation, he considered
this ministry for himself as truly in the tradition
of St. Vincent. When Margaret was in prison he
wrote:"for
my part I devote myself heart and soul to the
work from this day."
Devotion, heart and soul,
was to be the hallmark of his commitment to St.
Brigid's and the Sisters of the Holy Faith.
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Our
Holy Faith Vision
In
her day, Margaret Aylward responded fully and
courageously to what she experienced as God’s
special call to her. She received from the Holy
Spirit a profound appreciation of the gift of
faith. Her conviction of its value filled her
with an overwhelming desire to preserve that gift
in herself and others. |
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"And,
indeed, it is a glorious thing to devote our
time, talents and energies to the preservation
of the faith.” [Orphanage
Report 11:1867]
For
Margaret and the first sisters, this charism found
expression in their active and profound compassion
for the poor and destitute, especially for children
in danger of losing their faith.
Margaret
was also impelled by the deep conviction that
her work for children, the provision of education,
and her support of family life was also building
up the fabric of society. |
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“Upon
this one thing, the education of the poor, depend
the future of Ireland and the future of society.”
[Orphanage
Report 5:1861]
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| Click
"Heritage 2" below to listen to
Hymn in honour of Margaret Aylward |
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