“FOOTBALLER” NUN TURNS 100

“FOOTBALLER” NUN TURNS 100

How often do you get to share the joys of life with a centenarian? I guess you probably do not know anyone who is a hundred, especially, in this part of the world where life expectancy is 60 years for women and 50-55 for men!

But Sr. Hyacinth Barden, an Irish nun, who has spent her entire life in Kenya is in a class of her own on many counts. She is the first Loreto sister to have celebrated her hundredth birthday. The nun, known as Hyky by her former students, is an accomplished hockey coach of many years. More interestingly, she has, for many years, been a diehard fan of Manchester United football club, one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football. Now, it may seem a little extraordinary associating a Catholic nun with such a rowdy game as football, or even imagining her screaming at the top of her voice in support of her team as most fans do, but that is Hyky for you; an extraordinary lady.

On the morning of Thursday 31, 2010, when Hyky turned a hundred, she was the proud recipient of congratulatory messages from the Irish President, Mary MacAleese and the coach of “Man U” Sir Alex Ferguson. In her message, President MacAleese expressed her admiration for Sr. Hyacinth, having lived through such interesting times in the history of the world; including remarkable changes in lifestyles as well as technological developments that would have been unimaginable at her birth. In his message, Sir Alex Ferguson, expressed his gratitude to the nun for being such a staunch supporter of the team he has been coaching since 2006.

Sr. Hyacinth was presented with numerous gifts, including momentos from Bishop Alfred Rotich, of her favourite team, “Man U,” as it is popularly known among its fans.

The centenarian celebrated her life in a colourful ceremony surrounded by the nuns of Loreto Msongari, members of her extended family led by her cousin Judith Barden who travelled all the way from Ireland for the occasion.

Sr. Hyacinth arrived in Kenya in 1944, only three years after her profession and has, practically, spent her entire adult life serving in Kenya with the Loreto Convent Sisters.

She has been living out her interesting vocation among the Sisters of Loreto in the outskirts of Nairobi. She enjoys praying for each member of the community in addition to the young children that school at the Convent school who fondly call her “Grandma Sister.”

May she blow many more candles in the coming years, always, a blessing to all around her and indeed, across the world as a member of the larger family of “Man U” supporters.