Sister Peggy arrived safe and sound in Fargo, ND on Sunday, June 7th accompanied by Sister Katherine Fennell, PBVM and Sister Maura De Crans, PBVM. Prior to her return, she enjoyed a week of birthday celebrations and farewell parties in her beloved Chimbote.
Hundreds of students, parishioners, staff and friends assembled at various small gatherings to honor her 32 years of service to the people of Chimbote. ACAF also hosted a huge community party to celebrate her birthday on June 2nd.
The following is an excerpt from her farewell speech during her birthday celebration:
“I appreciate all of you that have allowed me to be part of your lives. I have laughed, cried, enjoyed and fought among you for justice and equality of all of the poor and homeless in Chimbote. I never regret having decided to accompany Father Jack in his priestly life here in Chimbote. Like Father Jack, I love Chimbote and will carry all of you always present in the depths of my heart.
I ask for you please to have God present in all of your actions, let us be forever grateful to Him. I go trusting in God, in my faith and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother, plus the prayers of all of you. I know that we will meet again.”
After decades of being away from her Fargo Sisters, Community and her family in Ireland, we are happy she is now able to reunite with us again. Her Presentation Sisters hosted a welcome lunch for her on Tuesday, June 9th and she’s been enjoying some one-on-one visiting time with long-time friends during her first week back.
The highlight of her homecoming will be a very special trip to Ireland planned for later this year where she will have several weeks to reconnect with her family. She will also enjoy a couple weeks of peaceful reflection and spiritual restoration at a beautiful retreat center much like the one Father Jack stayed at in Spain. As much as she was beloved by her extended family in Chimbote, she is equally adored and loved by her U.S. and Irish family. We are so grateful for Sister Peggy’s years of leadership and inspiration and we look forward to discovering what the future holds as we all adjust to this transition.
If you’d like to send her a card to welcome her home, please send them to:
Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Attn: Sister Peggy Byrne
1101 32nd Ave S
Fargo, ND 58103
