IMCC is named after Sister Irene McCormack, a catholic missionary who laid down her life for villagers in Peru, so they could have a better education.
Irene McCormack was born on the 21 August 1938 on Kununoppin, in Western Australia, near Trayning. She was raised in a typical Western Australian family and later on she attended a boarding school in Attadale. There she developed her love for serving God and educating youth. At the young age of 15 she knew she wanted to become a religious sister. In 1957 she joined the religious sisters of St Joseph. The next year she declared her first religious vows. After joining the Sisters of St. Joseph she had spent many years in teaching schools in the country areas. She taught in schools in Western Australia and schools as far as Victoria. After teaching in Australia she volunteered to go to Peru on a mission. She first worked in El Pacifico on the 26th of June 1989, she left to serve in Huasahuasi. Irene McCormack continued providing poor children with libraries to help do their school homework. On the 17th December 1989 the catholic priests were warned of danger from Sendero Luminoso. The priests and the two of the sisters left the village and went to Lima. However Irene McCormack felt that in her heart that the church could not abandon the village now. So she and the other nun returned. On May the 21st 1991, near 6:00 pm the Shining Path stormed the village and made Irene come out of the convent. They did not enter the convent itself but waited outside and forced her to come out. Eventually she did come out. She and 4 other men of the village were made to lie on the ground and they were each shot in the head. Irene was the first to be killed by a young girl