by PETER GRACE
AUCKLAND — One of the victims of the aircraft crash in the Ukraine on July 24 was an Australian religious sister who often visited New Zealand.
Sr Philomene Tiernan, RSCJ, had been to Britain and France and was returning to Australia when Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot out of the sky.
A Sister of the Sacred Heart at Baradene, in Auckland, who wished to remain unnamed, told NZ Catholic that Sr Tiernan was Australia-New Zealand provincial from 1996 to 1999.
“She was also in charge of the mission in Australia and New Zealand, and she visited the school here [Baradene College] quite often.”
Sr Tiernan was a very lovely, attentive kind of person, the Auckland sister said. “She was a beautiful kind of person.”
She was on the way back to boarding school in Rose Bay in Sydney when she died, the sister said. “I think all the sisters are still a bit numb and are trying to come to grips with the reality,” she said.
More than 600 people attended a memorial Mass for Sr Tiernan at Randwick on July 25, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull — paying his respects to the woman who taught his
daughter, Daisy.
The following day, hundreds gathered at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rose Bay to farewell their longtime friend, while others mourned with Prime Minister Tony Abbott at a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on the Sunday.
Shortly after learning of her death, Mr Turnbull tweeted: “Many women, including my wife Lucy & daughter Daisy, were inspired by the love of Sr Phil Tiernan, RSCJ. God bless her & all
who died in MH17.”
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