Sr. Briege McKenna and Fr. Pablo Escriva de Romani.
By Joseph Ryan Moscoso
August 9, 2023
Manila, Philippines
Irish Sr. Briege McKenna isn’t just an ordinary speaker about priesthood: it is her life’s mission.
The nun is one of the speakers of the upcoming National Retreat for Priests in Cebu City from November 7 to 9 this year.
With the theme, “Priesthood: A Call to Holiness,” Sr McKenna is perfect for the role.
Her story begins in the northern Ireland city of Newry where she was born, and where she joined the convent of the Sisters of St. Claire at the age of 14.
During her years of religious formation, she fell ill with rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating condition that worsened after she took her vows and began working in Florida.
However, Sr. McKenna recounted that her life was suddenly changed when, in 1970, she experienced a miraculous healing from her illness and soon after she received a gift of healing.
These moments paved the way for a healing ministry that has since carried her across the globe, where she tends to the sick, the suffering, and priests alike.
“Through this experience, I got a new understanding of the priesthood. I got a new love and a deep reverence for the sacrament of Holy Orders,” Sr. McKenna told the Catholic newspaper, The Universe, back in 2002.
“I came to understand that priests were in need of great prayers, and great consolation,” she said referring to her “visions” about the priesthood in front of the Eucharist.
Sr. McKenna ministered to priests in collaboration with Fr. Kevin Scallon, CM, for over 40 years until his death in June 2018.
She now continues this ministry to priests and parish missions with Fr. Pablo Escriva de Romani, a priest of Archdiocese of Madrid, also working as a missionary in the Diocese of Limon, Costa Rica.
Fr. De Romani accompanied Sr. McKenna in her around-the-world missionary work for priests to preach in parish missions and retreats.
“Trying to find the poorest of the poor, I realize, it was us priests,” he noted in an interview with the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York.
He emphasized that many priests, with the media and social pressure, already find it a challenge to exercise their ministry and are oftentimes mistreated for it.
“So I think, it’s a joy to be able to really rediscover with Sr. Briege all what the priesthood is,” added Di Romani, who is also known for his work in war zones and his missionary retreats worldwide.
At least 3,000 priests are expected to attend the retreat at the IEC Convention Center that was initially built for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.
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