Sisters of Mary Morning Star welcome Christmas in Waterford with delightful craft sale

Saint Mary's Catholic Church on Lady Lane marked the beginning of the Christmas celebrations with a craft market held from November 28-30.

The Sisters of Mary Morning Star filled the church with their own homemade products, offering a smorgasbord of cheap and cheerful gifts that would make ideal stocking fillers.

First was Sister Angela, who made her own candles from scratch.

“We are a community, and we live from private donations, but also from the products…So each sister is making her own craft. And so we propose different things, such as jams, candles, rosary beads and stuff.”

As Sister Angela spoke, the vocals of her fellow sisters rang out across the chapel. What’s playing is the sisters’ own album, that was recorded across an intensive two-week block. The CD was also available to purchase at the craft market.

Sister Ann Raphael arrived in Waterford from Kansas, importing her soap-making knowledge to the Déise. She said that homemade soap functions as a strong remedy to the harsh conditions of winter.

“I've been doing it almost 10 years now. I've been doing it since I was entered in the community. I'm really happy to make soap because it's something that's so good for people's skin, especially in winter,” she said.

“It’s a good thing to do for your skin. I use it all the time, and I hardly ever use hand lotion.” 

Sister Aude has produced jam for over 24 years since she joined the community, with her offerings including raspberry, blueberry and uniquely, elderflower - utilising the elderflower tree in the church’s back garden.

“My first time I made jam actually was in Africa, and we didn't have a stove, so I would do it with fire,” she said.

“It's great to make jam, because it's kind of magic, you know, you put the sugar and the fruit, and then, the heat makes it become jam."

While the Christmas market has wrapped up, the sisters will still be taking requests for in-demand products throughout the holidays.