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Irene McCormack was born at Kununoppin, Western Australia on the 21st of August, 1938, was raised and grew up on a farm in Traying near New Norcia. At Santa Monica College , Irene was influenced and had devoted a great love for serving God and educating children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGdU3fC0SPA
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Encouraged by her family's support, on the 15th of November, 1956, at the age of seventeen, Irene had joined the Sister's of St Joseph, the Australian religious order also know as the Josephites (or Brown Joeys because of the brown habits they wore).
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In 1958, Irene recieved her first vows as a nun into the order.
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Sister Irene McCormack took her final vows as a nun in 1965.
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In 1969, Irene graduated from the University of Western Australia.
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Irene spent 30 years as a teacher mostly in country schools of Westerrn Australia.
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Irene arrived in Peru on the 16th of November 1987 and was one of two sisters who had decided to go to work in Huasahuasi where she set up a library with jigsaw puzzles, games, dolls, musical instruments and books for children.
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On the 17th of December, 1989, the priests at Huasahuasi were warned by authorities that danger was arising and they and the two sisters (Irene and Dorothy) were all forced to leave for their own safety.
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On the 14th of Janurary, 1990, a year after the two sisters left HuasaHuasi, Irene felt the need to return to HuasaHuasi as she felt the Church shouldn'tve abandoned the residents in need. Irene and Dorothy made an 8 hour road trip back to HuasaHuasi to serve the residents of Peru, whilst teaching and providing nutritional meals.
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On the 21st of May, 1991, Irene was killed by the "Shining Path" who had cost the lives of over 22,000 people, mostly poor people. The "Shining Path's aim was to cause distress throughout the town in order to overthrow the government. Sister Irene was one of their targets as a person that brought encouragement and confidence to the people of HuasaHuasi was considered the "enemy". http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=77GZWWNX
