A number of our sisters, together with members of other Congregation were delighted to attend the recent launch of Catholic Sisters, Conflict and Peace in Northern Ireland 1968–2008 by Dr Briege Rafferty.

The book is an in-depth study of the lives and work of Catholic sisters in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. It covers four decades, from the outbreak of conflict in 1968 through to the era of peace. In that time, sisters lived and ministered in communities marked by violence, fear and loss, and later took part in the long work of reconciliation and rebuilding.

Several of our sisters contributed to Dr Rafferty’s research by sharing their personal stories and experiences. Their accounts form part of a wider record of women religious who stayed close to the people they served through some of the most difficult years in the North’s history.

The launch was a moving occasion. It brought together people who lived through those years and others who wish to understand them. The book ensures that the quiet, often unseen witness of Catholic sisters during the conflict is remembered and valued.

We thank Dr Rafferty for this publication.