This summer, Sr Rita Kelly, MMM gave a presentation at a significant conference at Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at the University of Oxford. The Las Casas Institute brings together a growing academic family or community of scholars, mainly lay women and men, who draw on the rich tradition of Catholic social thought, teaching, and practice.

Sr Rita presented her paper at the conference called “Forgotten Voices in Literature and Religious Conference, Blackfriars Hall. It was organised by the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice, a Dominican foundation.
Her presentation, “Wounded Healers, Narrating Our Personal Experiences,” was based on her vast experience working with returned missionaries in the Irish Missionary Union (IMU). She initiated the IMU-REAP team in a response to their needs and as an acknowledgement that many missionaries experience stress and trauma in the field. Her presentation was well received and created much interest.

In addition to delivering her paper, Sr. Rita met the members of the Las Casa Institute through the MMM Communications Department when they were doing research on “Recovering the voices of Sisters who have conducted challenging ministries in conflict zones.”

Sr. Rita is the former MMM European Area Leader. She is currently gathering oral histories of local people who knew Mother Mary Martin, MMM Founder. She is also co-authoring a children’s book on Mother Mary’s life. The book will be completed by the end of the year.