The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary marked their Centenary Closing event and Documentary Launch on Zoom on 26 April 2025. The recording can be watched below.
Category: Blog Post
MSHR Centenary Closing and Documentary Launch
MSHR Centenary Documentary, Launched 26 April 2025.
A moving documentary highlighting the selfless missionary service of the Sisters as they bring compassion, hope, and healing to humanity.
Through powerful stories and real-life encounters, this film reflects the heart of their vocation— serving the poor and vulnerable with love, faith, and steadfast dedication.
Sr Franca Onyibor’s Earth Day Message
Centenary Year Closing Press Release
Press Release
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary celebrate the conclusion of their Centenary year with gratitude and hope for the future
March 7, 2025 (on the eve of International Women’s Day), marked the end of a hugely successful Centenary year of joyful celebration of 100 years of dedicated missionary work of the MSHR to spread the message of God’s love and empower women’s lives worldwide… <<Scan and Read Full Text Below>>
MSHR Foundation Day 2025
Foundation Day Message to the Sisters
Sr Franca the congregational leader marks the 101st anniversary of the congregation, celebrating the sisters’ dedication worldwide and encouraging them to deepen their ministry of presence.
She reflects on the joy of the centenary celebrations, inviting them to embrace the ongoing jubilee year, “Pilgrims of Hope,” by witnessing hope in their communities.
She also urges prayers for Pope Francis’s recovery and echoes his call to journey in hope while caring for the marginalised, including migrants and refugees.
She pointed out key updates, which include the 2024 General Chapter’s focus on synodality, trauma healing, and strategic growth. Sisters in Cameroon have begun trauma care initiatives, and efforts are underway to expand support to other regions. The Organisational Capacity Assessment is progressing and is crucial for
future funding.
The much-anticipated centenary documentary is near completion, while the Generalate’s move to Killeshandra House, Cavan, will begin in April. The letter also celebrates 15 Jubilarians and provides every sister with a copy of The Second Burial of Bishop Shanahan to
reconnect with their Founder’s spirit.
She expresses solidarity with sisters facing political shifts in the USA, conflict zones, and global injustices, reaffirming the congregation’s mission for peace and justice. The Nonviolent Communication (NVC) program in Nigeria has fostered reconciliation
across diverse groups.
Ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8), she calls for renewed action on gender equality. She closes with a blessing from Bishop Joseph Shanahan, wishing every sister a richly blessed Foundation Day as they step forward in faith and hope.
Centenary Grand Finale
Photo Story
On August 3, 2024, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary celebrated their 100th anniversary at St. Patrick and Felim Cathedral in Cavan. The event included a Mass led by Bishop Martin Hayes, featuring a meaningful procession, a graceful East African dance, and a vibrant multilingual choir.
A joyful photo session captured the centenary spirit, with sisters celebrating silver, golden, and diamond jubilees honoured in group photos.
The festivities continued at St. Patrick’s College Hall, where a PowerPoint presentation highlighted the congregation’s rich history and global contributions to education, healthcare, and social justice. It was a fitting tribute to a century of Mission.
Pilgrimage to Kildallan
Pilgrimage to Kildallan
The Holy Rosary Sisters went on a pilgrimage to Kildallan and Killeshandra in Kilmore Diocese, special places associated with the MSHR foundation story. The people of Kildallan welcomed the sisters and prayed with them at Mass in St Dallan’s Church.
The Key celebrant was His Lordship Dr. Martin Hayes, the Catholic Bishop of Kilmore Diocese. It was a beautiful and simple ceremony, with people present who had fond memories and connections with the “Killeshandra Nuns,” as the sisters were popularly called. After the Mass, the congregation proceeded to the grotto, where a chair donated to the sisters as a memoir of their spiritual impact on the people of Kildallan was unveiled. The unveiling took place amidst singing, dancing, reflection, and prayers.
Photo Gallery
Everyone moved joyously to the tree-planting part of the pilgrimage. The tree would stand as a sign of the special connection and bond between MSHR and the people of Kildallan. The reception followed immediately with eating, drinking, and sharing lovely stories and memories of the sisters from way back.
The sisters left immediately for Killeshandra their first home. It brought back beautiful memories. Though the property no longer belongs to MSHR they have erected and preserved a monument and cemetery for posterity. These were the two key spots visited during the pilgrimage. Sisters took photos posing close to the memorial and later proceeded to the graveyard where prayers were said for all the deceased.
Pilgrimage to Co. Tipperary
PILGRIMAGE: CO. TIPPERARY
Photo Story
Borrisoliegh
The Holy Rosary Sisters set out on the 13th of July 2024 on a pilgrimage from Mount St. Annes Portalinghton, the Congregational 16th General Chapter venue to Borrisoleigh in Co. Tipperary Ireland the birthplace of their founder, Bishop Joseph Shanahan.
The Sisters participated in the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist at the Church of the Sacred Heart and afterwards proceeded to a lovely reception at the parish centre.
The highlights of the day include the visit to the churches in Borrisoleigh and Templederry where Shanahan received sacraments growing up, the presence of two grand nephews of Bishop Shanahan, the visit to the grotto of Shanahan, and viewing the plaque donated by the students of Holy Rosary College Edenvale, South Africa.
Templederry
MSHR Founder
MSHR FOUNDER
Bishop Joseph Shanahan was born in the beautiful valley of Glankeen, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary in Ireland to Daniel Shanahan and Margaret Walsh on 4 June 1871.
Joseph made the first profession at Easter 1898 and was ordained a Holy Ghost priest (CSSp) on 22 April 1900 in Blackrock College, Dublin. In 1902, he was sent on mission to Southern Nigeria to serve the people there.
On 28 September 1905, at age 34, Joseph was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Southern Nigeria, and on 6 June 1920, he was ordained Bishop and Vicar Apostolic. He fostered evangelisation through schools, which led him to found the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary in 1924 to continue his legacy.
He died on Christmas Day 1943 in Nairobi, Kenya. Motto: Lord that I may See
Bishop Shanahan, said to the first seven postulants of the Holy Rosary Sisters on Foundation Day 7 March 1924:
“There are before you, as before all missionaries, sufferings, and trials.
But remember that it is Christ who sweats in our sweat, who burns in our fever, who aches in our tired limbs, who continues His suffering in ours. You do not know the millions of souls that will be saved because you are here today- because you are beginning a new Sisterhood in Christ.”
Be a Missionary and make a difference in the world. Are you ready to answer the Call?
The Foundation
The Foundation
The congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), founded in 1924 by Bishop Shanahan began with seven women, three of whom had been lay missionaries at St. Joseph Girls’ School in Calabar, Nigeria. Bishop Shanahan wanted to empower women in Southern Nigeria so MSHR was established in Drumully House, near Killeshandra Co. Cavan, Ireland on March 7, 1924.
Seated: Agnes Ryan, Bishop Shanahan CSSp, Ellen Burns. Standing: Georgina O’ Dwyer, Christina Shannon, Fr. P. J. Whitney, Nora Leddy, Veronica Hasson, Elizabeth Ryan.
The Seven women were mentored by the Dominican Sisters in Killeshandra, Dublin. Four Dominican Sisters – Mother Xavier O’Connor, Aquinas McSwiggan, Ursula Cullen, and Anastasia Hickey were assigned to guide the New Order in Cavan in February 1924.
The Dominican Sisters remained with the Holy Rosary Sisters for ten years until 1934. In the following decades, MSHR expanded rapidly both in membership and mission locations serving fifteen countries in Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Thank you for reaching out to the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary with your
prayer request. Our communities worldwide are presenting your request in our daily prayers.
God bless you.