by Sr. Noeleen Mooney, MMM Ireland/Kenya 13.01.2022
Let me see, why did I do it?
I was on retreat at St. Therese House of Prayer in Nakuru, Kenya, run by the St. Patrick’s Fathers. The spacious garden is an oasis of peace and solitude. In the garden they have built a rondavel with a grass roof. There is where I sat, grateful for the shade from a too penetrating sun.
By Sr. Prisca Ovat MMM Kenya 10.01.2022
A new year may sometimes mean trying out new things. It was nothing short of reality here with the experience of bicycling. This new adventure brought memories of the early days when sisters cycled to school and work. The motivation behind this trend is the unpleasant experience of automobile breakdown during our palliative care home visit, prompting a futuristic thought. What are the available alternatives? I thought a broken-down car should never be the end of home visitations!
by Lisa Murphy MMM Archivist 08.01.2022
On the 1st of January 1940 Mother Mary Martin wrote from the Novitiate in Collon, County Louth, to Sister Mary Magdalen O’Rourke at Rosemount in County Dublin. This was a period of change for MMM who were preparing to move their Novitiate house from Collon to Drogheda, take over the running of the maternity home at Beechgrove and provide maternity services for the town and surrounding areas. In her New Year letter, Mother Mary recites the virtues of a Medical Missionary of Mary which includes humility, generosity, thoroughness and spending one’s self for others.
by Sr. Noeleen Mooney, MMM Ireland 07. 01.2022
“The world began this morning, God-dreamt and full of birds.”
So, Patrick Kavanagh tells us – and he was a poet – with his own special way with words. God-dreamt and full of birds. How beautiful and true. In so many ways mornings would not be half so joyful or inspiring without the birds, if not exactly to awaken us, more to reassure us that there is a brand-new day beginning, which is well worth singing about, however hoarse the voice.
by Sr. Maria Borda, MMM Malta/Tanzania 06.01.2022
The Magi- Astrologers described in the Gospel ( Mt 2:1-12) had to be a little crazy leaving the security of their homeland to venture forth into a strange country presided over by a mad king like Herod, in search of a Divine Child. But their great Faith, and adventurous spirit enabled them to discover the secret of the whole universe – the secret of God’s incredible love for His people , ‘the Salvation which He has prepared for All Nations’.
By Theresa McDonnell Fristrom AMMM Ireland 05.01.2022
I recently read one of Fr. Richard Rohr’s sermons on the Feast of the Epiphany. His main theme was the universal symbol of being guided by a star. My reaction was subtle yet strong; a reminder; an invitation to ponder.
by Sr. Mary Doonan, MMM Ireland 04.01.2022
The Gospel reading for Mass for Thursday 4 January 1980 was “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor” (Lk4). That day, I was about to embark on my maiden mission voyage to Malawi.
by Nadia Ramoutar MMM Communications Coordinator Ireland 03.01.2022
Almost every year once the over indulgence of the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations are wrapped up, the next tradition to face is the making and often the break of New Year’s Resolutions. Many people are so busy taking care of other people and doing good in the world, they have a hard time doing good things for themselves.
The heart may be sincere in the making of New Year’s Resolutions but the numbers are grim about actually sticking with it. Research shows that after one week, 25% of people are already done with their resolutions. By February 1st that number is increased again to 45 %. After six months, on average 46% of people who made a resolution will still be successful in keeping it.
By Sr. Cecily Bourdillon Zimbabwe/ Ireland 02.01.2022
I
had the great joy and privilege of being missioned in Malawi for 19 years. Malawi is a small land-locked country with a population of nearly twenty million, in the centre of Africa and has the name of ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’.
My first assignment was to Chipini in Zomba District in the southern part of Malawi. MMM had been invited to Chipini by the Diocese when the burden of taking pregnant women and the very ill to Hospital in the middle of the night became too great for the Comboni Missionary community in Chipini. The Health Centre was built and the MMMs were invited to administer it.
by Sr. Josephine Joseph Ezior, MMM Nigeria 01.01.2022
Christmas is a significant event in Nigeria and the most exciting periods of the year for most Nigerians. Everyone, both young and old, long for it. It is a season of change in the environment, change from the routine meals and businesses, but most of all, it also brings growth in the spiritual life. Christmas in Nigeria is a family event, a time when most family members come together to celebrate and have fun. Most people travel home, where other family members and relatives live. In all these, the cure is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
