by Sr. Ruth Percival MMM England/Tanzania 12.06 2024
“I will leave my spear here, it will protect you,” said the warrior as he thrust his spear into the ground a few feet away from the Land Rover. Smiling, he hurried after the other warriors who had disappeared over the edge of the ridge. looked around. I was alone in a large clearing, a few hundred feet up the mountain that stands behind our house. The ridge – so impressive and distant from below – was clear and close in every detail. All I could see were hills and more rolling hills in the distance. The valley lay below, hidden by trees. I marvelled at the beauty of the scene, at the scented blossoms on the grey thorn trees. At the same time, a sense of self-preservation dictated that I should fix the rear-view mirror on the undergrowth behind me, to watch for animal movements.
What were we doing up the mountain? A cow had broken a leg in a ravine and had to be slaughtered. We were asked for the Land Rover to bring the meat down for sale. The poor cow was about a mile from where I was left with the spear protecting me from the lions. When the warriors eventually returned, they brought me a third of the cow’s heart, beautifully cooked. That was considered a very big honour, and delicious too! It was a great honour for us to have been invited to live in Maasai country in Tanzania. Within a 15 km radius there were over 50 bomas, with approximately 60 family members in each.
The boma is a circular compound where the Maasai live. Inside the circle made of thorn bush that protects the people and the cattle inside can be found a few houses where people sleep. As these are a semi-nomadic people, they travel often with their animals, and sometimes with their whole family, in search of pasture. There are innumerable little sandy tracks and paths criss-crossing all over. They all look alike, so it is easy to get lost. But this is not advisable, as lions, buffalo and elephants are among the many animals who inhabit the locality. Half a mile from our boma there was a great open watering place for the thousands of cattle, sheep and goats. There is a domestic water point here too. The water flows down the mountainside from a spring. The open place is the centre for everyone’s life. There the people meet; the elders gather for their meetings. The warriors gather with their cattle and goats. The women and children come here to fetch water for the home.
This was my home for many years.
by Sr. Sheila Devane MMM Ireland 10.06.2024
Frequently I end a letter, or an email, with the single word “Blessings.” When I do this I don’t see myself actually blessing anyone, in fact I hadn’t ever thought about how these blessings might be imparted until a day last week. Can I tell you about it?
I was sitting at the laptop near a window working away on client notes and through the blinds saw a figure outside; believing it was someone calling to the door I went out to find it was a man dressed in a workman’s outfit complete with crash helmet and high vis jacket. He greeted me as ma’am and told me that he had been cleaning the gutters of many of my neighbours’ houses and saw mine from on high – they were in a sad and sorry state. He then said that this is work he could do.
Without too much reflection or thought and mainly on automatic pilot I found myself greeting him back, thanking him for coming and saying that we were a registered charity and needed to only engage workmen from companies that were formally registered. I have to confess that I had no idea at this stage if this man’s company were a state one, a highly registered one or whatever, but somehow I got into this rant making a quick decision that I had a nice man who could rip me off any minute. So, far so bad.
I smiled and thanked him and somewhere in this “speech” I must have said something or other about this being a convent. He became animated and was no longer interested in talking about gutters but about his little boy Tony (his namesake) who is aged 6, autistic, nonverbal and needing our prayers. I was no longer on automatic pilot but listening with empathy as he talked of their efforts to get schooling and help for this young child. He had never been to school himself. He wondered would his son ever talk. Would he ever be able to live independently? Would he get the help he needed and how would they get it? He told me of how they are now praying to Carlo Acutis and he was thrilled I knew of this future, youthful, saint saying how they looked at videos of Blessed Carlo the night before.
I was on holy ground, listening to a deeply faithful man, witnessing here on the doorstep to a level of trust in God and a degree of hope in divine providence that were profound and so moving. As he went to leave, he said: “Goodbye ma’am – no you are Sister.” Then he turned around, came back, and asked for my blessing. I was shocked. There is always a first time. Here I was gathering myself together and praying a blessing for this concerned and holy parent.
My one, and big, regret is that I did not ask Tony to bless me. Somehow, I know he did.
by Sr. Margaret Anne Meyer MMM U.S.A. 08.06.2024
The first of July, 1964, came around pretty quickly, following a retreat of eight days in Killiney and a short vacation. The whereabouts of the vacation I do not remember, just the joyful thanksgiving that Medical School was completed and we were about to embark on our intern year in the International Missionary Training Hospital called IMTH and now Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
What was it going to be like? It was a tremendous feeling of exhilaration and also fear as I donned my crisply starched white coat. God was with me in Medical School and hopefully God would be with me in this new adventure. I will never forget the kindness of our MMM nurses who helped me so gracefully while still keeping me in charge. I remember seeing my first Asthma Patient with extreme difficulty in breathing. I seemed to freeze, and Sr. Maureen O’Connor deftly gave me a syringe of Aminophylline saying she had seen this work before. In a flash it all came back as I was taught, but the Asthma patients whom I had seen as a Medical Student were all recovering after receiving this injection in the Casualty Department the night before.
I was placed in the Medical Department under Doctor Costello. He was an excellent physician and taught me very much. He would correct me with his sorrowful eyes that I had missed the challenge of medicine by choosing a different way. Unfortunately, he was not available at all times, and the sixth-floor nurse, Miss Seery, helped me to solve a lot of medical problems. At that time, we had no Medical Registrar and no cardiac unit. These were the days before bypass surgery. It sounds awful now but a patient with a myocardial infarction would be given sedation and bedrest and sometime later an ECG would be taken. Most of them survived.
Soon the 14th of July came around and this was to be our conferring day. We three had gone to Rosemount the day before to prepare. I had put my hair up in pin curls for the six years of medical school but Sister Gemma Collins, a medical student, said she knew how to use rollers and would be happy to put them in for me. She really did an excellent job and I never saw myself looking so good. In fact, after the conferring ceremony which took place in Earlsfort Terrace, the Irish Independent newspaper took pictures of some of the female medical students including he three of us, for the Social and Personal Column. We all did look nice holding our newly acquired degrees in Medicine Surgery and Obstetrics It was an exceedingly joyful day for us in gratitude to God for getting us through with flying colors. Sister Maura Lynch’s family took Marha and me to a hotel near Grafton Street for a delicious dinner. It really was very enjoyable to be with Maura’s parents and her six brothers and two sisters. They made us feel part of their family and rejoiced in us as in their own daughter.
Our parents did not come for the conferring. They will be coming in a few months for our final Profession of Vows. It was difficult to travel twice from the USA.
That evening, the plan was to travel to Bettystown to meet with Sr. Immaculata and Sister Magdalene O Rourke who would come from the Nuncio in Phoenix Park to take us back to Drogheda. The Sisters had brought us a treat of caviar and other goodies to eat. Again, we had great rejoicing and as a final tribute for the day we all went out to sing the Magnificat on the sandy shore of the Irish Sea to thank Our Blessed Mother for all her help and intercession, before returning to Drogheda. Finally, we felt more complete to continue to learn how to be a Doctor through prayer and continued contact with patients and nurses. And that is another story.
by Sr. Sheila Campbell MMM Ireland 06.06.2024
There are two hundred and twenty-one individual panes of glass in our chapel. How do I know this weird fact? Because I have counted them, of course!
Even after many years of practice, often prayer does not come easily. I want to pray, but my mind is distracted, thinking about work, or a conversation I had recently. And I turn to irrelevant tasks like counting panes of glass.
The reason I am telling you this is to share what I do when I get so distracted in prayer. Instead of trying to put these distractions out of my head I try to pray with them. What do the panes of glass do for the room? They let in the light and a picture of what is happening in the outside world. Immediately the world’s trouble spots come to mind, so I pray for those afflicted by wars, hunger or disease. I look at the rain outside and think of the farmers and all who work upon the land. I remember the many places of our world where rainfall is scarce and water sources are precious. So many of our MMM projects around in Africa and South America are to do with water capture and management. Without clean water there is no health!
When a conversation bothers me into distraction, I try to pray for that person – especially if I am annoyed with them! We never know what is going on in their inner lives, the challenges they are facing, the decisions they are struggling to make. I ask for guidance for them and patience for myself. Often, God just jokes with me and says, “Don’t take yourself so seriously!” And often I hear the comforting phrase, “don’t bother saying any prayers, just stay and keep me company for a while”.
I am not sure if this is the best way to deal with the times when the mind wanders off. It is the only way I have found to date. I am always open to suggestions!
by Nadia Ramoutar MMM Communications Coordinator Ireland 04.06.2024
Turbulent Skies Reflect Climate Change in new ways
For many of us who care deeply about ecology and the impending challenges caused by humans in regards to climate change can feel like rearranging the furniture on the Titanic. It is frustrating that so many people in the world are refusing to believe that it is true despite infinite amounts of evidence.
Last week however something happened that shocked the world of the wealthy. A person died on an airplane due to turbulence and several others were severely injured. Apparently this is very rare on a commercial airline but private planes have been majorly impacted by this new variation of deadly turbulence but we hear very little about it.
According to a recent article in the Irish Times ‘This phenomenon is caused by the meeting of air at different temperatures, pressure or velocity, where different wind patterns collide – not unlike boats suddenly encountering choppy waters.’
This article along with many others globally identified that the climate change is contribution to the new impact of not only more turbulence on airplanes but that it lasts longer and is actually rougher than before. The airline industry is unable to keep up with this apparently and needs to modify to prepare for it.
According to the article there is ‘evidence that turbulence is worsening with climate change, as CO² emissions affect air currents. Weather patterns are more disturbed with a warmer atmosphere.’ Paul Williams, a professor and scientist at Reading University have concluded that higher temperatures were increasing levels of turbulence encountered on transatlantic flights. By how much? Interestingly the incidents of severe turbulence increased by 55 per cent between 1979 and 2020.
For so long now some of the worst impacts of the climate change or climate crisis have impacted poor people and unfairly the very people who did not cause the negative impacts as they have very low carbon footprints.
Sadly, it may take things like travel for work or for pleasure being disrupted to really get some people’s attention. We are running out of road to speak in trying to get people who have the power, influence and money to listen to the pleading of people who care. It has been a discouraging and upsetting experience to see our earth continue to suffer and people in the West and Global North not care enough to do more.
As we look at this new development in aviation, is this what it will take to shake things up for people in power? When they are inconvenienced will the reality of the climate crisis actually sink in? Thankfully there are people like Prof Paul Williams at University of Reading who are making these findings public showing we are not imagining this. This climate crisis is real and the longer we wait, the worse it will get. It’s time to elevate our efforts.
by Sr. Bernadette Fadegnon Republic of Benin/ Brazil 02.06.2024
It all started with a visit after a parishioner shared with two of the Sisters about Maria, a woman in her 80s who had been an active parishioner but she was no longer able to participate in the community. She could not even leave her house due to her age, depression and ill health. Maria had expressed a wish to go to the old people home because she has no relatives in the city and, since she left the village in her youth and now with no siblings alive, she didn’t want to go back. The parish priest knew but took no action.
Like the attitude of Mary at the Visitation, we set out in haste to visit this woman. We arrived in a dark place like a hole. It looks like nobody lived there. It was a tight passage leading to a narrow staircase up to a small house. Thank God there was a bit of opening upstairs that allows air and light to enter. Maria again expressed her desire to go to the old people’s home. Why? She said that it was not just a desire but a necessity.
We left her and agreed that one of us would make inquiries and see the possibility of bringing forward her request. We had no idea that looking for an old people’s house for her was going to be so quick! Sister Ana made contact with one of the old people’s homes of the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Theresa. They said they would visit Maria within a week.
The day they visited Maria, one of us accompanied them, on their way back from the visit, they made a short call sharing how excited and anxious the woman was about the old people’s home.
Following up on her case we went to visit her another day and it was one of the days she was very low. She was quite depressed. When I shared the message of the Sisters, she started asking a series of questions like “Who are there? Where is the place? How many people do they have? And the questions continued and finally she said she thinks that she can’t go because she is sick and this and that… Her fears and doubts seemed to expand at every word she spoke. That was a day of deep depression!
Here came a wise suggestion. The other older Sister who went with me whispered to me. “Maybe we should propose to her a day for a casual visit to the old people’s home so that she can see and have a feel of the place? Maybe that may help to provide answers to her questions?” I loved the idea and asked her to share it directly to Maria in the hearing of everyone. Obviously that was a smart idea that everyone liked. We suggested that Maria come with us and bring a second person of her trust to come with her. Then, I made an appointment with the old people’s home.
D day came and Maria was ready for the visit. The Centre, which is also the sister’s convent, was spacious, and clean. We met the other nine old women that were being cared for by the Sisters. Maria and her companion were shown around and the Sister answered some of her questions. Maria seemed to be happy and loved the place. On our way back it was obvious she was chattier though that doesn’t mean her fears were totally removed.
She thanked us as well as others. We left praying that the visit may help her to make the decision.
After three days, Maria decided to go to the old people’s home. We helped her make the move on the assigned day.
We kept contact with the Sisters through phone calls and we paid them a visit. She seemed to be keeping well and she looked well.
We thank God for the opportunity to express the MMM healing charism through going in haste and in collaboration with the lay people and the Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa. May God reward all those who have been part of her story bringing food and or cooking for her and those who indicated her to us for our intervention. We are grateful to each one of them and especially to the Sisters who were very open and generous to accept her unconditionally, to give her care and attention. Maria had motivated a big solidarity among the women of the neighborhood. This case was a lesson for me, that being vulnerable is not just sad or bad. It can also be looked at from a positive side and open other peoples’ hearts and minds for their kindness.
We pray that all will go well for Maria and that she will find a home in the old people’s home so that there won’t be any need to come back to live alone at her age of 84 years.
by Sr. Irene Balzan MMM Ireland/Malta 31.05.2024
The feast of the Visitation is at the core of who we celebrate to be as MMMs and AMMMs.
Personally, this day always infuses me with renewed life and energy as I ponder on the loving and
spirit-filled encounter between these two amazing women – Mary and Elizabeth. This year the
Visitation comes just two weeks after Pentecost. It offers us a quiet moment of reflection in the
midst of all that is happening around us. The encounter of two women – waiting, tending to the
unanticipated seed of new life deep within each one of them, supporting one another in a time
of great uncertainty- and of incomprehensible joy and wonder in knowing that God had chosen
them as the carriers of his saving message.
But also, two women whose plans were disrupted; turned-upside-down; intruded upon by one
who slipped into their normal course of affairs, sight unseen. And their lives were transformed!
And as they visited, they found in each other a kindred spirit, engendered by The Spirit. Mary and
Elizabeth…witnesses to the God of the impossible.
It seems that our world today is filled with crises of all sorts – wars; ecological devastation; the
massive movement of peoples around the globe, forced from their homes and livelihoods due to
conflict, climate change and its accompanying famine, drought, floods, fires; and perhaps the
lingering effects of a pandemic.
I wonder if we are still with the Apostles in the upper room not knowing what to do or what to
say; wondering how we can ever be witnesses of Good News to the ends of the earth in these
extraordinarily uncertain – and dangerous times. But Mary, strengthened and supported by
Elizabeth, is with us too. And she is waiting – as she did so many times before; gently reminding
us, today, that the God of the impossible, can never be outdone! So infused by this encounter
let us dare to hope and believe in the newness of life!
Mary and Elizabeth be our guides!
Like us all I sometimes think of Heaven. What will it be like there, what will God look like, what body will I have, and will I easily recognise everyone else? What will we all be doing?By Sr. Siobhan O’Keefe SHJM Ireland 27.05.2024
‘We are very sorry, there is no more active treatment that we can offer you, we are referring you for palliative care.’ These can be frightening words, even when they are not totally unexpected.
We are all fragile human beings and illness in its many guises can visit us uninvited at any age. Modern medicine has made wonderful advances offering cure or comfort to an increasing number of illnesses. Ethical medical research continues to expand offering a better quality of life to many who suffer. Sadly, cure is not always possible, and in such situations, compassionate care is a fleshing out of the Gospel where Jesus reaches into the heart of all who suffer with the touch and words of comfort, wholeness and peace The sick person needs to know that their voice is heard at every stage of their illness and in a particular way when they have reached a palliative stage of their journey. Many but not all wish to be told the truth about their condition by their doctors and the manner in which this news is delivered is important.
A private meeting where the sick person may have the company and support of a loved one needs to be set up where the sick person, clinician and their advocate can speak openly and honestly about their concerns, fears and hopes for the future. Some may wish to be on their own with their doctor and nurse and this too needs to be respected. Many ask families and staff to listen to and honour their wishes at this most critical time. Some may wish to ask what medical and nursing care will be made available to them and is it realistic? What are the cost implications and if so, who pays? Will the person be able to continue to live at home or is admission to Nursing Home or Hospice necessary? They may need help to put financial or legal affairs in order and may need the support of a Social Worker and Solicitor to do this. All will wish to be kept comfortable and every effort undertaken to keep pain or distressing symptoms at bay.
Depending on the nature and stage of illness, the person may have a list of wishes that they would like to enjoy while they are able. A chapter of a book may need to be completed, a favourite place visited or a grand-child welcomed into the family. Some may wish to celebrate their marriage to their partner or attend a child’s wedding. Reconciliations with family or others may be necessary before the person is able to complete their journey on earth and every effort needs to be made to help them to achieve this desire.
The search for meaning in their illness will continue, all the stages of loss and grief, like anger, denial and bargaining will bubble up at different or maybe unexpected times. The person and family throughout this journey need sensitive, compassionate understanding and support so that acceptance and peace can finally be found. The cultural and faith norms of the person and family must be respected and honoured. Where an active faith is present, the presence of a minister of religion and the reception of the Sacrament of the Sick or other ritual can be a source of healing and comfort for the person and family, enabling them to surrender their lives in peace to the God who is calling them home. Many wish to plan their funeral liturgy, both in its content, place and meaning, and the celebration of their life, these wishes should be given respect.
‘Palliative care accompanies the sick person and their family on this final journey, whether the care is at home, in a hospice or hospital.’
First published in the Sacred Heart Messenger, February 2021
by Jo Doyle Ireland 25.05.2024
When I linger on the mysteries of God, I realize that I don’t really know an awful lot. Pentecost, however, is one of the big mysteries.
I ask, what does Pentecost mean? Often the reply is, oh, it’s the coming of the Holy Spirit. So, I ask again, what does that mean?
Most answers don’t touch my core and certainly don’t touch me enough to change me.
The tongues of fire, large winds, speaking in tongues, all connote the presence of God. Remember Moses in front of the burning bush and unable to speak! Is union with God about Pentecost?
The coming of the Holy Spirit is a bit like pulled pork, it makes sense in bits and pieces. In one Corinthians 12, there is context to the Body of Christ, which is not a single part but many. Jew, gentile, Greek, slave or free, all seemingly were included into the Body. Is inclusion part of the meaning of Pentecost? Then there were others who were called into the body, after Pentecost. Saul the antichrist who became Paul. Of course, the apostles, who had experienced the fire of the Holy Spirit, somewhat like Moses and the women, these friends of Jesus who stood at the foot of the cross, Mary his mother, along with all the other Marys, knew something powerful had happened. Even though at the descent of the Holy Spirit Mary’s name is not mentioned in the Bible, the Church says she was there. Imagine if there were no women, there would be no life.
If we are all invited by the Spirit into the Body of Christ then can you imagine the variety of gifts, but the same spirit, what a diversity of life we would have.
Are we afraid of this? A variety of people with many gifts? Life would be boring without it. It seems the spirit is inviting us into the body to use our gifts for the common good. Imagine living where only the elite were invited to use their gifts. We would end up with small myopic closed off groups afraid of change, excluding others and terrified of themselves. This is the opposite of Pentecost.
To be a Pentecost survivor you need to have the courage to be led by the Spirit. Pentecost enlightens us and aligns us to the wants of the spirit. There are few certitudes walking this way, but those who walk with Him are not naive and are willing to be led and transformed into compassion and relationship. Spirit is about relationship and if you look close enough at life, unity is created by diversity where we discover a sense of belonging to the larger. When we cling to the smaller, however, oddly enough that emphasizes difference and can isolate and alienate.
Now back to Pentecost. One body with diverse gifts. Is this a gift or do we have to earn it? We think if we are good, we will earn God’s love but being open to unity, diversity and belonging is the gift that falls on everyone if we are open to receive it. Pentecost is a discovery of who we are and what part we play.
I look to Good Friday and the wounding. The descent, rising and healing of Resurrection and then the discovery of who we are with Christ. Karl Rahner says that the only future of the Christian Church is the mystical church. Is that the call to union, to die with Him so as to rise with Him and now to answer the call of the Spirit where we will belong to the larger body?
If you look at the Vatican structure, Vatican Square is really two arms openly embracing all people who walk into it, and in alignment with this same Spirit being sent out from that full embrace to the whole world.
Can you imagine a world if that was Pentecost!
Jo Wardhaugh Doyle is farming in Kildare with her husband Matt. She has worked in Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya, but more recently has worked with Sr Rita Kelly MMM doing the REAP programme in the Irish Missionary Union (IMU).
