Nuns save mural of Sister Clare Crockett from rubble

Since the Derry nun’s death last month the Sisters were forced to demolish all the buildings of the school in Playa Prieta, Ecuador, as they were unsafe after the earthquake. They are now to be rebuilt.

However, they managed to save a special mural depicting the morning classes Sister Clare would give, when she played her guitar and sang to the children.

It is hoped the mural will find a new home in the new school.

Marta, the architect who drew the mural, wrote on a website dedicated to Sister Clare how she would remember the Derry nun for her engaging personality.

“She was funny and direct. She would pray with the children every morning, and they always asked her to sing their two favourite songs about the Good Shepherd and the Guardian Angel. I loved to listen to her sing and to watch the faces of the kids as they listened to her; they were fascinated by her and watched her every move, wide-eyed and with their mouths open. When I asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, they all said that they wanted to be guardian angels. One day, when I passed by the high school classrooms, it was funny to hear the 16-year-olds begging Sister Clare to sing the Good Shepherd song before beginning class. She had captivated all of us.

“The Sisters suggested that I paint a mural in the school patio. When the school’s four hundred students saw me painting, they would come up and say; “You have to paint Sister Clare too!”

“The candidates and girls from the school helped paint as well, especially the final scene with the celebration.

““The fact that Sister Clare and the girls died on the eve of Good Shepherd Sunday is curious, if not a sign and a message.

“Sister Clare is the only Sister that I painted in the mural.

“Looking at the mural now, we can see that the Shepherd’s house is the house of the Father who prepares a celebration and receives us with a “Welcome Home” banner.

“This is especially true in this Year of Mercy, because the Good Shepherd is the manifestation of God’s mercy.”

The Home of the Mother Order plan to visit Ireland this summer and will pay a visit to Sister Clare’s grave.