Sister of Mercy Maura Redington, who led San Bernardino’s Our Lady of the Assumption School as a principal, teacher and mentor to young minds, was returned to God on April 1 in her native Roscommon, Ireland.
Sr. Maura arrived at Our Lady of the Assumption in 1963 and began her decades-long ministry at the parish school as the second-grade teacher. In 1987 she was named Principal of OLA and she led the school faithfully in that position for 17 years, including being named Diocesan Distinguished Principal of the Year in 2002.
She began a new chapter in parish ministry in 2004 when then OLA Pastor, Father James McLaughlin, named her Director of Religious Education. In that role, Sr. Maura strengthened the parish’s catechetical program for public school children. She then transitioned to the position of Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of the Assumption where she pioneered a new ministry to senior citizens called “Young at Heart.”
In 2014, Sr. Maura decided to return to her home country. As her OLA family celebrated her many years of ministry in the parish and school, they gave thanks for her many wonderful qualities.
“She provided common sense counsel to the many who sought her advice; you always knew where you stood with Sister Maura,” reads an entry in the OLA Parish Directory from that year.
It was noted that Sr. Maura passed away peacefully in her sleep on the “night of Easter Day.” Many of her friends, loved ones and fellow Sisters of Mercy still in the United States celebrated her life by viewing the livestream of her Mass of Resurrection from Roscommon on April 4. Our Lady of the Assumption School has planned a local memorial Mass for Sr. Maura on May 14 at 11 am.