Mags GarganEarlier this month a number of priests, religious and laity from the Diocese of Ossory and beyond joined with Bishop Séamus Freeman SAC at St John’s Church, Kilkenny for a Mass of Thanksgiving to honour 48 years of ministry at Peace in Christ, the Ossory Diocesan Retreat House.
The large congregation gave thanks for the ministry of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph since 1967 when the retreat house was established to provide opportunities for prayer and reflection in a creative and peaceful atmosphere.
Over the years about 20 sisters have ministered at Peace in Christ while thousands of priests, religious and the lay faithful have availed of spiritual renewal at the retreat house.
The decision to close was made by Bishop Freeman and the sisters based on a recent review of the ministry of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph in the light of the declining number of sisters, an appraisal of the physical structure of the retreat house and the prohibitive cost of refurbishment in order to bring the facilities up to the required standard.