Venerable Edel Quinn
Dear President
Greetings from Concilium
September 14th 2007 will start the Centenary year of the birth of Venerable Edel Quinn. It is an appropriate time to bring to mind a few details about Edel, her life in the Legion of Mary and position in regard to the Cause.
Edel Quinn was born in Kanturk, Co. Cork, Ireland on 14 September 1907; her ambition was to enter a contemplative convent, but ill health prevented her from doing so. The family moved to Monkstown, Co. Dublin in 1925.
At the age of 20 she joined the Legion of Mary in Dublin; in 1936 she was appointed Legion of Mary envoy - to establish the organisation in the vast territories of Eastern and Central Africa.
Edel established hundreds of Legion branches even as far as Mauritius in the Indian Ocean; she mobilised thousands of Africans in the service of the Church.
After eight years of heroic labour, Edel died on 12 May 1944 in Nairobi, Kenya, where she is buried in the Missionaries’ cemetery.
Following a solemn declaration on December 15th 1994 by Pope John Paul II affirming her heroic sanctity, Edel Quinn now bears the title “Venerable”.
One properly attested miracle (attributed to her intercession) is required for Beatification.
In light of the above, the Concilium invites your council to encourage any council under your care to each hold a special celebration of her life sometime during the Centenary year of September 2007 - September 2008. We would welcome details of any proposed functions and reports on same should be forwarded to the undersigned.
Kindest Regards
Catherine Murphy
Assistant Secretary