Farewell Sr Karen Bourke mfic

15 JUNE 2018 | GENERAL INTEREST

 The MFIC Sisters gathered to celebrate the life of one of the younger Sisters after the sad passing of Sr Karen Bourke recently.
Karen was best known for her ministry in education. She began her ministry in primary school serving in Coolangatta and Kedron for about 5 years before moving to secondary education. Karen served the communities of Marymount College at Burleigh and Mt Alvernia College in Kedron from 1980 to 1993. Her final decade in secondary education was as Principal at Mt Alvernia College.
After a term in Rome on the General Leadership Team, Karen returned to Mt Alvernia in a pastoral role before accepting a transfer to work in formation in Papua New Guinea. Her skills as a spiritual director and retreat facilitator were very well appreciated. Karen also served at Xavier Institute in Port Moresby.
Karen was very well loved and respected by those who knew her. She brought outstanding relational skills to every ministry with a wonderful sense of humour. She was a woman of vision and achievement. We had many hopes for Karen – hope that she would continue to weave her magic in ministry for many years to come – hope that she would assume leadership roles in the church and community – hope that her life would be longer and her final years more enriching, but that cruel disease dashed all our hopes. We hold on to our many memories of Karen and the way that she passed from life as she lived it – gently and peacefully. Rest in peace.