SISTER CATHERINE MORTON, Sister Provincial of The Sisters of Christ in Cameroon, sent a full account of the last days and the funeral of Sr. Mary Agnes to Bro. Ralph Loftus. He has kindly sent me a copy so that I could share some of the contents with you, I wish that there was room for the whole moving article.

" We had lunch together on 6th August, that is Sister Magdalene and I from Bamui joined the Nkongsamba Community on our way to Tiko...

As always Sister Mary Agnes was full of joy and gave us a very warm welcome. She admitted to being a little tired....

Unfortunately we had to leave in order to reach Tiko before night. Little did I know that the next time I saw Sister Mary Agnes it would be in a hospital bed the following Thursday, 11th August She went to Mass on Sunday 7th in the local Parish of St. Denis and seemed fine, even dancing with the people during the celebration, as is the custom.

On Monday night she told Sisters Imelda and Hilda that she would have a long sleep the next morning, as Mass is in the evening on Tuesdays."

When she didn't appear the sisters went to look for her and found that she was most unwell and was unable to talk. A doctor came from the nearby Health Centre and prescribed some medication but when her condition didn't improve it was decided to take her to the nearest Catholic Hospital at Njombe, about 75 km away.....

Sister Imelda tried to contact Sr Catherine but the area she was in had no network for mobile 'phones. Fortunately Sister Brigitte, of Yaunde, was able to contact a priest who lived not too far away. He sent a messenger by motorbike to tell her to get in touch with Nkongsamba.

"It was only the next morning, Thursday 11th August, that I was able to reach the hospital. I found our little Sister sleeping deeply and apparently not in any pain. She didn't seem to know I was there. Earlier that morning, her friend of many years, now the Bishop of Nkongsamba, the Rt Rev. Dieudonne Watio had been at her bedside to pray.....

Whilst waiting for the specialist team to arrive, one of the Polish sisters and I said the Rosary between us, one decade in Polish, the other in English. Did she hear us ? And did she recognise the hymns I sang quietly in her ear?"

It was decided to transfer Sr. Mary Agnes to the hospital at Douala, where she could have a scan and access to sophisticated equipment. The fully equipped ambulance arrived for the journey -about SOkm.The radiographer was awaiting them and a scan took place immediately. It showed that a minor stroke had occurred.

The Doctor was confident that he could operate and they prepared to return her to the clinic for the night. Unfortunately the heart was not strong enough. "I held her right hand, the one that had been so creative, in so many ways, throughout her busy life. I saw the fingers turning white and knew that she had left us. The doctor was so disappointed. Having discovered the problem, he was confident he could do something. Two of the big ambulance men cried......

Sister's body would be taken to Nkongsamba on Tuesday 16th August when she would be brought to the chapel of our community there for a night vigil, before the funeral on Saturday 20th. From the day other death groups came to pray in the chapel, old and young, especially the little children who had been her pupils for the preparation of First Holy Communion."

As August is one of the wettest months of the year there was a fear that the preparation of the grave would be a problem. A small miracle took place, no rain fell for two whole days and nights.

" Whilst three of the sisters dressed her body in the mortuary another group of mourners went out of the mortuary with a 'rent a band' of rather battered brass instruments blowing, ' When the Saints...' and 'Nearer to Thee my God..'

I am certain this amused our Sister Mary Agnes. When the time came for us to leave the mortuary many of the parishioners were gathered with several priests from nearby. Prayers were said as we set out behind the hearse (the Bishop's Land Rover) to a chapel in the property of the Sacred Heart Fathers.

Five Priests concelebrated with the Bishop. In his homily Fr. Pierre Guena spoke of Sister's desire from long ago, to die and be buried in Cameroon. He said that each time she saw a missionary returning home because of sickness she asked God that this would not happen to her. He said : 'God heard her prayer.'"

Afterwards a long cortege made its way to the house of The Sisters of Christ and the coffin was placed in the chapel. Masses were offered during the night, the Youth Choir sang and people came and went.

At 8.30 a.m. on Saturday 20th August the hearse came to take the coffin to the Parish Church - St. Denis, in brilliant sunshine. Many came from far and wide. The Bishop was the main celebrant; in his homily he called Sister Mary Agnes, 'Grande - Mere' and told how much she had always helped him with her prayers and encouragement. During the consecration there was lightning, a huge clap of thunder and heavy rain for a few seconds.

It was so remarkable that, at the end of Mass, the Vicar General commented that it semed as if God was telling them that Sr. Mary Agnes was with Him. The congregation walked to the Sisters' House, where the burial took place in a part of the vast garden.

"Following the burial, we experienced some cultural expressions of mourning and thanksgiving in a Bamilike dance circling round drummers, at first very slowly then moving progressively quicker....

Many of the men dancing carried horsetails to whip evil spirits and chase them away."

Afterwards copious dishes were opened and more than 350 people ate and drank their fill. All had been cleared away when the heavens opened and heavy rain fell all evening and through the night.

We thank Sr. Catherine Morton and send our sympathies to all the Sisters of Christ, we know how much Sr. Mary Agnes will be missed. Such a very special lady whom many of us remember as a pupil, an exceptional teacher and a friend. We always visualize her laughing! Our lives have been enriched through knowing her.

Brother Ralph Loftus and his sisters Mrs. Nelly Chester and Sister Mary Bernadette thanked us for our sympathy and for the Mass we had offered for Sr. Mary Agnes.

I sent a copy of the Order of Service of the Memorial Mass, and a couple of photos, to SISTER PATRICIA MACKENZIE. Sr. Mary Agnes a been a great friend, she always tried to visit the Carmelite Monastery when over from Cameroon.

Before she went to Africa MOTHER HELEN d'ALENCON sent Patricia to stay in Manchester, where Sr. Mary Agnes was in charge of a small community, which included MOTHER GERTRUDE POTTER, so that she could drive her over to Wood Hall, in her red Mini, to make the arrangements about entering the Carmel there.

Brother Ralph Loftus had called in to the Carmel in July, en route from the South back to Newcastle. He had read the book by Sr. Marie Litchfield, "Countryside and Cloister," and enjoyed it very much.

You will remember that Sr. Patricia had told us that she had the task of editing it. If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy I can let them have the address of the publishers.