McCormack - The Orange House
Sister Irene McCormack worked as a missionary with the Sisters of St Joseph in Peru. On May 21, 1991, Sister Irene was executed by terrorists in the mountain village of Huasahuasi, Peru.
Her ‘crime’? Feeding the poor. Irene was born in Kununoppin, Western Australia in 1938. She grew up on a wheat/sheep farm and received her schooling from the Sisters of St Joseph. She entered the Sisters of St Joseph in 1957 and after a number of years teaching in Australia she was sent by the Order to Peru, to be a gospel presence among the people of Huasahuasi. Her pride and joy was the simple school room/library where she taught the village children to read and write.
The risks of living at Huasahuasi were well Known to Irene and her companions. The threats and violent activities of terrorist groups were a daily reality in that part of the countryside. Despite warnings, Irene chose to stay. On the evening of May 21st 1991 a terrorist group known as Shining Path invaded the village and subjected Sister Irene and four local men to a sham trial in the village square. Irene was accused of being a ‘Yankee imperialist’ and managing the Caritas foodstuffs, a form of aid for the poor of which they disapproved. Then Irene and the men were made to lie down on the ground and the terrorists shot each of them in the head.
McCormack House pays tribute to this brave woman.