Much-loved Loreto Sister celebrates 100th birthday

One of Navan's best loved Loreto nuns, Sr Philomena Flynn, celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend with her family, friends and the local community. Sr Philomena, who taught many generations of Navan children in St Anne's Loreto, as well as teaching music and domestic economy to many others, celebrated her centenary with a Mass in St Mary's Church in Navan. Celebrants were Bishop Michael Smith, Fr Declan Hurley, Adm, Navan and her cousin, Fr Liam Carey, a Columban priest, serving in Peru, who is home in Ireland to celebrate the silver jubillee of his ordination. Among those who attended the celebrations were her sister, Sr Aloysious, a member of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, her nieces and nephews and their spouses, her cousin, Sr Catherine, members of the Loreto community and representatives of the many groups and organisations she was involved in during her 80 years in Navan. Sr Philomena was one of a family of eight from Gainstown Mullingar. She had four brothers, two of whom were priests, who served in the Livepool dioscese. Her three sisters were all nuns. One was a Mercy sister and two other were Poor Servants of the Mother of God. Sr Philomena and Sr Aloysious are the only surviving siblings. Sr Philomena was educated at Loreto School, Mullingar and St Anne's Boarding School in Navan, before entering the convent in Navan in the early 1930s.