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Dublin nun shocked to receive medal of honor from Queen Elizabeth

Taken aback by completely unexpected honor

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, February 6, 2012, 8:18 AM
Updated Monday, February 6, 2012, 10:12 AM

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See more: Irish Catholic Church  

Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth


A Dublin based British nun told the press she was 'shocked and humbled' to learn she will receive an award from Queen Elizabeth in acknowledgment of her decades-long commitment to social justice in Africa.

Sister Helen Spragg told the Herald she was surprised to receive news of the award in Dublin, after a letter asking if she would accept an MBE from the queen was posted to her Irish address.

The Medical Missionaries of Mary nun, now based in Booterstown north Dublin, will travel to Buckingham Palace to receive her award in May. The unexpected honor recognises Spragg's work in Rwanda to improve health care for poor communities.

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Sr Helen, 49, told the Herald: "It came as a bit of a shock. It was a bit humbling. I suppose you could say it was shocking, humbling and exciting. The award really recognises the work of a team of which I was part.'

Sr. Helen told the Herald she decided to join the Irish order of nuns at the age of 25 when she was working as a pharmacist in her native Sheffield. She travelled to Dublin and spent her first two years of her religious life in the city before being transferred to Kenya.

'I suppose I joined because I was idealistic and I wanted to work with people who were on the margins. I wanted to live in a community that was based on prayer and I liked adventure,' she said.

Sr. Helen worked for several years as a pharmacist in Uganda before being sent to a remote part of Rwanda in 1998 to develop community health care.

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9 Comments

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doyathink | Feb 12, 2012, 12:27 PM EST
I agree at least in principle with IrelandNorth. It always amazes me how many fault finders and critics try to keep the fires of conflict blazing when even a tiny step is taken that could help bridge relations between Protestants and Catholcs. There are so many wrongs that have been committed in Ireland in the distant - and very recent - past on both sides, I think it unwise for either side to say the other is the bad guy.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 08, 2012, 08:26 AM EST
Member of the British Empire (MBE). A little quixotic when such a political entity no longer exists, except in drag - like the Commonwealth of Nations, which the school teacher from Mayo is enthusiastic about rejoining. But why not, if such facilitates a reunited Ireland. An MBE is higher than an Order of the British Empire (OBE). The only OBE I'm ever likely to receive is an Out of the Body Experience.

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faberm1 | Feb 06, 2012, 09:04 PM EST
Seems like QE2 is taking a spiritual role as head of her church. I think her recognition of this work is wonderful.

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cillowen | Feb 06, 2012, 04:46 PM EST
they go gaga for their queen

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Murph46 | Feb 06, 2012, 04:23 PM EST
irishpjk-Do ya stutter?

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irishpjk | Feb 06, 2012, 03:59 PM EST
A Protestant Queen can see the good works done by our catholic nuns, but our catholic leaders can only find the bad.

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jamieLM | Feb 06, 2012, 01:15 PM EST
Women like Sister Spragg and Mother Theresa and others like them are the REAL "saints" because they lived/lived and work/worked with the very sick and poor and not in some cloistered area, safe from disease and violence.

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Murph46 | Feb 06, 2012, 12:44 PM EST
Hey Canadian what was yur first clue?

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Canadian | Feb 06, 2012, 12:04 PM EST
Presumably you did not have a photo of the nun, so you printed one of the Queen.

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