THE
P RTAL
May 2016
happy to die a Catholic, but never forgot the roots
from which she came. Those of you who were at
Westminster Cathedral will remember Sister Wendy
after having been received into the Catholic Church.
Whilst the rest of us were making every effort to look
composed and glide back down the sanctuary steps
she turned to the congregation with a beaming smile
on her face and two thumbs up.
She loved telling this story, quoting Bishop Alan
Hopes saying, ‘Oh, I hope the press didn’t see that!’
and Mgr John Armitage saying, ‘Oh, I hope they did!’
There are so many things that people will remember
Sr Wendy for, and too many to be recounted here. But
many people will remember Sr Wendy for her constant
round of jokes, which cheered many a downtrodden
villager or pilgrim and caused many a Sister to groan
at the repeated repertoire.
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was totally because of her prayers, but at least it is clear
she made an enormous contribution.
I believe now that Sr Wendy Renate (with an E) is
now working hard in Heaven on our behalf and is now
looking out for us every step of the way. Thank you
Sister Wendy, it has been an experience.
Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
And of course, her amazing singing voice will be a
big miss, both in the Shrine choir and in the many
prayer groups she attended in thirty three years of her
professed life as a Sister. She underestimated herself
in so many ways and never grasped how positive an
effect she had on so many people. She listened, she
comforted, she cried with people, she laughed and she
prayed with people. She cared. Her faith was a constant
inspiration and her love for Our Lady was so deep and
true. She also had a deep devotion to the Divine Mercy
and encouraged many people, including myself, to
take up the beads and pray the Chaplet.
Speaking of beads, my final story of Sr Wendy is
when, during the first Gulf War, a member of the village
community who was in the army, and his son, went
to fight, leaving
his wife at home
alone. Sr Wendy
went over to their
house every single
day to pray the
rosary with her and
by doing so formed
what she called the
Battle Bead Brigade.
She wrote many
a comforting and
encouraging letter
saying that the
battle beads were
in full swing so that
peace wo