The Green was the venue for the launch of Mary Ward – Dangerous Visionary, a DVD commissioned by the Loreto Order to mark the 400 Year Anniversary of the foundation by Mary Ward of the first apostolic institute.

The fact that Mary Ward had been declared venerable in December of last year, the first of three steps towards becoming a saint, gave the occasion an added significance and even more cause for celebration.

A large crowd turned out to see the work produced by Sarah Mac Donald (Loreto, Beaufort) and directed by Ciarán O’Connor.

Mary Ward-Dangerous Visionary focuses, not only on the life of Mary Ward and her struggle for recognition within the Church, but also on the present day work of the Loreto sisters in Rumbek, South Sudan and Guelph, Canada.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 52 minute presentation. The re-enactment of scenes from Mary Ward’s life, with Sinead Murphy in the title role, was extremely effective. Given the fact that The Green Past Pupils had fundraised for Loreto Rumbek, it was an opportunity to see the school there, and of course Sr. Anne Mary, whom many of you who were in The Green in the 70’s and 80’s will remember. The scenes shot in Canada, in Sr. Christine Leyser’s Welcome In Drop In Centre, showed a very different aspect to the work of the Loreto Order.

There was plenty to talk about, and many to congratulate at the reception afterwards. As we were leaving, I overheard one Loreto past pupil say ‘I feel very proud to be a tiny part of the Loreto story’. I think many of us who were there that night felt the same way.

For more information about the dvd, and to buy a copy (€10), you can contact www.marywarddocumentary.com