Sister Kathleen Reynolds

Kathleen’s long and fruitful life came to a peaceful end on 28 June 2007. It began at Bexley on 9 June 1922. Kathleen was the first of three children born to Vincent de Paul and Mary (Kelly) Reynolds. There were three older girls from the first marriage of her father, whose young Irish wife died during the influenza epidemic of 1919.
Upon the death of their maternal grandmother, the family moved to their grandfather’s residence in Warren Road Marrickville and Kathleen’s mother took on the care, not only of her own family, but also of her father, three brothers and two sisters. This was the home in which Kathleen grew up and which remained in her memory as the place of her happy childhood years.
Kathleen attended St Brigid’s School Marrickville for both primary and secondary education. Her attraction to Religious Life began at an early age and in 1941 she sought to join the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. On 6 January 1942 this wish was realized when she entered the Good Samaritan Novitiate at Pennant Hills and became known as Sister Mary Virgilius. She made her first profession of vows on 6 January 1945. She would be followed in this vocation by her sister Maureen – “my other self” she would lovingly say – who made her first profession as Sister Mary Vincent de Paul, on 5 January 1952. Maureen predeceased Kathleen on 12 February 2003.
Kathleen’s ministry as classroom teacher took her to North Queensland, to Wollongong and Campbelltown, and to the inner city and northern beach areas of Sydney. She is remembered for her cheerful, warm manner that endeared her to students, parents, and all her Good Samaritan sisters alike. She recalls these many sisters – in particular Mother M Oliverio – who assisted her in her journey to God. She would write “For all these wonderful people – for the Institute that has done so much for me, I thank God.”