Nun's Sainthood Bid Ignites Education Legacy

A petition advocating for the sainthood of Mary Ward, an influential nun from the 17th century, has garnered over 10,000 signatures. Ward was born near Ripon in 1585 and dedicated her life to advocating for educational equality for girls, a cause she believed would enable women to achieve great things.

Her pioneering work has led to the establishment of approximately 200 Mary Ward schools across the globe today. The Congregation of Jesus, an order she founded, maintains its primary English location at York's Bar Convent, which itself was established in 1686 by her friend Frances Bedingfield as one of the country's earliest schools for girls.

Despite her profound impact, Ward's name is not widely recognized in her home city of York. This lack of local awareness is partly attributed to Catholicism being outlawed in 17th-century England, leading the Catholic community to practice in relative secrecy. Ward was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, a crucial step in the canonization process.

The Bar Convent is actively supporting the campaign for Ward's sainthood, emphasizing that her legacy continues to be relevant and transformative. Public awareness and support are seen as vital in demonstrating her place in the modern church and world.