24.05.1947 – 21.01.2023

Sister Mary O’Sullivan RSM

has gone to the house of the Lord

Sister Mary O’Sullivan RSM (Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy) died at the age of 75 in Dublin, accompanied by sisters from her congregation.

She was a religion teacher at a high school in Dublin and at a parochial school in California. She lived and studied in Israel, and was the secretary of the Bat Kol Institute in Jerusalem.

From January 2009 to March 2020, she lived and worked at the Center for Dialogue and Prayer in Oświęcim.

During these years, Sister Mary cooperated with group leaders, professors, lecturers, educators mainly from English-speaking universities, colleges, high schools and local communities. She helped in the preparation of study programs for participants for whom the highlight of the program was a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. She took special care of the groups during their stay at the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer. Most of the time, Sister Mary could be found in the library, where she looked after our book collection.

She helped in the preparation of conferences, retreats, holy masses and meditations in which she also participated. She has always been interested in the subject of the relationship of Christian-Jewish and interfaith dialogue by participating in many international conferences.

In 2015, she was awarded by the Polish Council of Christians and Jews with the title “Person of Reconciliation”.

Sister Mary remains in our memory as a family member of the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer. We will never forget how she greeted each of the employees of the Centre as well as the guests visiting our house with a good sense of humour and a radiant smile.

Thank you for everything! Mary, may God reward you! Rest in peace! And do not forget about us, continue to be our good guardian angel!

On January 25, 2023, Sister Mary’s funeral was held in Dublin, Ireland

Fr. Manfred Deselaers represented the Center for Dialogue and Prayer in Oświęcim. He read a letter from the Centre’s employees:

On March 4, 2023, we met at the Holy Mass for the soul of late Sister Mary at the Center for Dialogue and Prayer in Oświęcim…

… and we shared our memories.

A short film about Sister Mary: