Sr Pia Buxton RIP

Sister Pia Buxton CJ died at St Joseph's, York on 3 October 2010, aged 78 and in the 56th year of her religious life in the Congregation of Jesus - the order of Sisters founded by Mary Ward and based on the principles of St Ignatius and the Jesuits.  Her funeral took place at the Bar Convent, York on Tuesday 12 October attended by her family, members of the CJ, IBVM, and MWA communities, and many friends. Sister Jane Livesey CJ, Provincial, gave the address which can be read in full on the Independent Catholic News (ICN) web site.  Below is an extract:

It was, perhaps, as Novice Mistress, that [Pia] first discovered the courage which was one of her defining characteristics.  This courage enabled her to take a very different view of how the life of her novices should be conducted and in particular the extent of their exposure to Ignatian spirituality and the life and wisdom of Mary Ward. This involved taking a stand on the proportion of their time that novices should be given for reading and study - a proportion that ate into the some of the more traditionally accepted noviceship activities such as washing up and sock sorting.  It was not always to the liking of others in the community but she stuck to her guns and all her former novices, whether still in the CJ or now living a lay life, were and are profoundly grateful to her for the way in which she enabled the foundations of their futures - human and spiritual - to be dug so deeply and in such rich soil.  It was this same gift that would be seen in her spiritual direction and associated ministries in later years.


 ICN - tribute to Sr Pia Buxton CJ