Sister Maire Morris died on 17th of July 2024 after an heroic battle against cancer.
She bore her treatment with patience, and prayer. Her life was one of dedication to the care of those in need.
For a significant part of her life she worked for Catholic Care (formerly the Rescue Society in the diocese of Leeds) in Southbourne linked with the Children’s Homes at Minto Road in Sheffield.
Children’s homes and hostels started to be phased out in the late 70’s. The opportunity arose for a new project at Southbourne.
Father Hubert McNamara a priest of the Hallam Diocese, was very open about his condition as a recovering alcoholic. Fully recovered he wanted to set up a project based on the AA programme to help others in a similar situation to the one he experienced. He was friendly with Sister Moira who became a huge personal support for him and together they set up this project renaming it the Carmel centre in 1986. He once said to me that he couldn’t have done this without Sister Moira’s help and basically she had saved his life.
Carmel’s programme was based on the 12 step programme.
The word “Carmel” means an oasis – a place of rest and nourishment. Father Mac became known as “the priest of the broken”. He always referred to Sister Moira as his greatest support in this work. They journeyed together helping others in need.
After father Mac died Moira continued to oversee the work of the centre until her retirement, ably supported by Bridgett Warren.
The work at the centre continued but was soon faced with an issue of financial support and it nearly closed. Caritas put together a recovery plan and fortunately it survived a precarious period.
Today it is a thriving enterprise offering care and counselling to the lonely, isolated, disadvantaged, depressed, and refugees etc. From an initial 3 day opening to now opening 6 days a week. Sister Maire legacy carries on today.
Staffing is entirely covered by volunteers. A religious order is still involved in the person of sister Marie thereby continuing the line of a religious involvement.
In my 60 years of practice in the social care field it is probably the best project I have had the honour of overseeing and witnessing.
The last words come from Sarah who was in the children’s home where sister Moira worked. “Sister Moira was like a mum to me. She was loved by me and everyone she cared for. She never judged anyone. She had a beautiful smile that lit up a room”.
Stuart Hanlon on behalf of Caritas Diocese of Hallam
