HIGH POINT— With a 7-foot leprechaun, Irish dancers and enough Irish coffee to fill a pot meant for gold, Pennybyrn hosted its 58th annual Irish Tea Party March 1, toasting to new beginnings and welcoming two of their beloved Irish sisters – Sister Lucy Hennessey and Sister Gabriella Hogan – home for a visit.
About 400 residents and friends wearing green-tinted shamrock sunglasses, Mardi Gras beads and buckled top hats traveled through four St. Patrick’s-themed spaces filled with food, spirits and music. Knights of Columbus from Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point served Irish coffee as Irish dancers leapt across the dance floor to the beat of Celtic bagpipes.
Father Patrick Hoare, experiencing the event for the first time after stepping into his role as chaplain at Pennybyrn just six weeks earlier, was already turning into a full-blown leprechaun.
Sporting a green tailcoat and stovepipe hat, he greeted his new community with limericks, laughter, blessings and prayer.
“I am new here … but as you can see, I am uniquely qualified to be part of this community with my first name being Patrick,” joked Father Hoare. “We are all connected to Pennybyrn for different reasons and in different ways … but we are all here for exactly the same reason St. Patrick went to Ireland – to make the love of God present to the people that we meet.”
Even the dancers could not distract from the main attraction: the returning Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God: Sister Lucy, who steered Pennybyrn for 50 years, and Sister Gabriella, whose smile and gentle presence warmed the community for years.
In their first visit since being recalled to their Maryfield Mother House in London last year, the sisters were eager to share an Irish toast.
“This is a celebration, a tradition that has gone on for many, many years, that started with our founding sisters … as a means of thanking everybody for what they have done,” Sister Lucy announced to applause. “It really feels good to be back. What is still ringing in my ears is ‘Welcome back and welcome home.’ Isn’t that nice? I, for one, was very excited about coming back, but when I met with Sister Gabriella, she was even more excited. So you have two very excited sisters, and we feel very welcome.”
The two sisters couldn’t make their way down the hall without stopping for hugs and friendly banter, and both agreed it was great to be back with old friends.
“I am so glad I was able to see Sister Lucy,” said Kathleen Koch, a parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Ireland may be her home, but so is Pennybyrn. She basically created this place,” Koch said.
Sister Lucy Hennessey (second from left) returned to Pennybyrn for a visit to join Father Patrick Hoare (center) and friends for the retirement community’s annual Irish Tea Party.Although it was the sisters’ first time working alongside Father Hoare, they already admired his humor, his love of Christ and his demonstrated passion for evangelism.
“It was nice meeting Father Pat. He is wonderful, of course, and a deeply spiritual person, too. So, that’s a plus,” Sister Lucy said.
Father Hoare had briefly met Sister Lucy before, but this was the first time they spent any length of time together.
“I never had the opportunity to sit down with Sister Lucy and Sister Gabriella, but over the last couple of days, we spent lots of time together,” Father Hoare said. “They told me great stories, and we shared a lot of laughs. They shared so much about the legacy of Pennybyrn and all the work they were able to accomplish here.”
The sisters will remain laughing and sharing their legacy with Father Hoare through St. Patrick’s Day, not missing the annual Shamrockin’ Party on March 14, which includes an Irish feast and a Celtic band. After that, the sisters may leave or stay a while longer – it is anyone’s lucky guess.
— Lisa M. Geraci
