by Sr. Chinyereugo J. Iwunze                                             Nigeria/ Ireland                               08.02.2025

The Reception and telephone switchboard provides an essential front-line service in a complex facility like the MMM Motherhouse in Drogheda. It is a place of contacts and encounters and monitors all the movements in the Community. It requires physical and psychological alertness to be there.

My first day in this department was on the 11th of June, 2024. That warm afternoon, the staff on duty with the sister in-charge gave me a warm welcome, and I was asked to come for 30 minutes daily in the afternoon for my induction. That faithful day of inception was like the experience of the men sent by Moses to spy the promised land in Deuteronomy1:28. They said ’’ …they saw the men, they are like giants…’’

When I saw the four switchboards glued together with up to 80 to 100 extension numbers to the rooms and offices in the house with their extension numbers and the Tannoy for paging and announcement. I was overwhelmed, because the use of a land line as a means of communication would not be a common way of communication at home in Nigeria. In the few places I encountered them at home I dreaded them and never had anything to do with them. So, working in that department was like confronting a giant I dreaded.

Thanks to our two lovely receptionists – Miriam Killeen and Winnie Mullen – who tutored and mentored me. My sister in-charge of the department, Sr. Eilis Weber and the sisters who work in that department were wonderful instruments at my beginning, belonging and becoming part of the telephonist/receptionist team.

At times the phone rings once in 30 minutes and sometimes couple of times within 5 minutes. Each one is a unique interaction. A caller might like to speak with a Sister in the office or in her room. This would need to be transferred to the appropriate domain. If the Sister or the staff needed is not available to answer the phone, the person is paged to get his or her attention. At times, it could be a call that requires quick thinking and discretion. In all, politeness and listening carefully are needed. Some sisters are on call at specific hours to seek advice when need be.

The morning rush begins as employees start to filter in. My attention shifts between the phone and the reception service. I greet each person with a warm smile, whether it’s a familiar face or a first-time visitor. The post man comes with the delivery which is stamped and smoothly distributed to each sister’s square box or to the different offices. The daily crosswords are photocopied from the newspaper as they are delivered, and the concerned communities and library receive their copies. Another occurrence is an internal or external call of a Sister looking for a Sister’s mobile number, an address or other contacts. Multitasking becomes second nature as I juggle calls, visitors, and other administrative tasks.

As Sisters sign out for a walk to go downtown or to the garden. I discretely monitor their walking gait and keep tract of the duration of time away. Depending on the fragility, after waiting without seeing the person, I call the person’s room number in case she entered through another door.

The early evening sees a rush activity as the staff round up the day’s work.  I let them out through the door as I bid them goodbye. Within this period, people for different prayer request call and their intentions are typed and put up at the board beside the oratory.
Being on duty after supper duty can be quiet, more than any other shift in terms of reception work.  I ensure that there are proper lock ups.  At 8.40pm, the phone automatically switches over to the night duty mobile phone.  The challenges, the problem-solving, and the constant interactions are what make the services dynamic and rewarding.  That gave me a sense of accomplishment that I encountered people, they made me happy, and I made them happy too.

To all the angels I encountered, may God bless you in good measure!