by Sr. Jo Anne Kelly, MMM                                        Ireland                               07. 02. 2026

During the third week in January, we pray for Christian Unity. We know the mission of Jesus on earth was universal. We are all fellow sinners redeemed by the same singular Saviour, Jesus Himself. We are loved with the same love. In many little and big ways, we can try to live this truth.

I am reminded of my little sister’s First Communion Day. We lived a long way from our small country Church. In those days the only way to get there was to walk. My sister was beautifully dressed in her white First Communion dress and delicate lace veil, new white socks and black shiny shoes.

But we had a spell of wet wintry weather and in that case, it was the custom to get a taxi for this special journey. Only one man had a taxi and there were so many needing a ride that morning by the time my mother got round to booking, he could not guarantee he would get them there in time.

My mother was in a dilemma. We lived in the north of Ireland and the only man in our neighbourhood who owned a car was Bill, who was of another Christian denomination. She went to Bill, whom she found under his car trying to repair something. He pulled himself out and said sure he would do it. However, he was not sure he would get the car fixed and if not, would the lorry do? She assured him she’d be grateful. He worked until dark but didn’t get the car going.

Next morning, Bill arrived in the big lorry. They set off. You can imagine how the little girl felt getting into the lorry. She sat in the middle in all her finery. It wasn’t easy to concentrate on First Communion when you knew you had to climb down from this big lorry in front of everybody. Outside the church, Mam tried to give Bill something for his petrol which he wouldn’t take, while the little girl just wanted to get out of the lorry without an audience. The bargaining seemed to go on forever. Bill offered to come back and bring her home. Mam said they would manage the home journey. Bill was just so helpful, a real good neighbour. For us growing up neighbours were neighbours, wherever they worshiped.

Many, many years later, probably the last visit my sister made to our family home, she went to greet Bill, who by then had celebrated his 100th Birthday. He came out to the door and gave her a great welcome and together they remembered that First Communion Day.