Sister Mary Canty was born in Skagh, Croom, Co. Limerick in 1926, the only girl of four children. She received her early education in Limerick and joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1952. She completed a Diploma in Social Science in UCD in 1958 and trained as a medical social worker at the London Institute of Almoners.
After a few months as a medical social worker in Drogheda, she went to Nigeria in 1960. She spent seven years in leadership in the MMM community in Urua Akpan. In 1968 she went to Antigonish, Nova Scotia an obtained a diploma in social leadership. She spent three years in Drogheda as sister-in-charge of MMMs after their first profession. After a refresher course in London, she worked as a medical social worker at Whittington Hospital.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 142
D.O.B. 14.02.1907
First Profession: 16.03.1948
Died: 15.07.2006 Aged: 99 years
Bridget Cannon came from a large family in a Gaelic speaking area in Co. Donegal. She trained as a general nurse in England and later as a midwife, fever nurse and district nurse. Bridget had many years of nursing experience in the UK and Ireland before joining MMM. She was working as a district nurse in her native Donegal when she finally decided she was called to religious life.
Sister Aengus was born Ellen Campion in Ballagh, County Laois in 1927. Called Eileen in her family, she was the sixth in a family of twelve, six boys and six girls. Two children died in infancy. To quote Aengus, her family life ‘was sharing in every sense of the word. One was under no illusions as to one’s responsibilities and duties. It was a happy growing up together.’ They were blessed with wonderful hard working parents in a farming milieu, who ensured the family were well educated. After attending Erill Primary School, Eileen went to the Loreto Secondary School in Kilkenny.
On completion of secondary school she considered a religious vocation but felt she needed to experience life by doing something concrete.
Nationality: British
Congregational Register No. 326
D.O.B. 23.05.1920
First Profession 26.04.1955
Died: 17.07.2000 Aged: 80 years
Elaine, known in MMM for quite some time as Sr. M. Campion or ‘Camps’, was born in Ipswich, England. In 1943, as a young woman of 22 years she married an equally young Royal Air Force pilot. Unfortunately, their happiness was to be all too short. He was one of the many young men killed in action during World War II. In 1945, after a year given to war service, Elaine started general nurse and midwifery training. Sometime in the late 1940’s she saw the film Visitation, which greatly impressed her and caused her to write to Mother Mary some 18 months later for additional information. She entered MMM in 1952.
Nationality: Scottish
Congregational Register No: 350
D.O.B. 10.11.1929
First Profession: 08.09.1955
Died: 10.12.1972 Aged: 43 years
From Scotland, Mary entered in Drogheda on 6 March 1953. At her religious reception she was given the name Machar. Later she reverted to her baptismal name.
She was the Dux (leader) in her school before she entered. She started radiography studies while a second year novice, qualifying as a MSR in 1956, after which she worked in the x-ray department. in Drogheda.
Sister Patricia Chibuzo Amadi was born in Nguru Mbaise, Owerri, Nigeria on Saint Patrick´s Day, 17 March 1945. She came from a large, close family unit. Her basic education was divided among several schools.
She attended Holy Rosary Primary School, Ovoro; Mercy Secondary School, Okigwe; and later Saint Louis Secondary School, Ondo. After leaving school she worked as a nurses’ aid in a hospital and in sick bay in charge of children with kwashiorkor.
Sister Grace, called Nda Gee or Nda Gra, was born in Uzoagba, Owerri, Nigeria in 1940. She completed her early education at the Holy Rosary School, Uzoagba. In 1961,
Grace came in contact with MMMs at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Anua, where she did her nursing and midwifery training before joining MMM in 1962. Like our first six Nigerian MMMs, she completed her postulancy and novitiate in Drogheda, Ireland. She made her first profession in 1966 and then obtained her general nursing registration in the IMTH.
Nationality:- Nigeria
Congregational Register No. 352
D.O.B. 23.05.1929
First Profession 02.07.1956
Died: 16.08.2001 Aged: 72 years
Sr. Veronica Akpan was born in Eniong Offol, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She had one older brother and a younger sister. Her home village is near St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, and it was here that she first came in contact with MMM. After her initial schooling and a one-year Teacher Training Course, she went to St. Luke’s and trained as a nurse and midwife.
Sister du Sacre Coeur was born Mary Julie Byrne in Dublin on 22 April 1927. From a family of five, two boys and three girls, she was known as ‘May’ by her family. After attending local schools she completed a commercial course in shorthand, typing and bookkeeping. For seven years, May worked as a secretary and bookkeeper, or personal assistant as it would be known today, to a solicitor in Dublin. When she told him she had decided to join MMM in February 1952 he was sorry she was leaving.
After first profession Sister du Sacre Coeur worked in the magazine office in Drogheda. In 1958 she was assigned to Nigeria, where she served as secretary, bursar and social worker in Ogoja, where MMM provided services for people affected by Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
Sister Mairead was born Maire Eilish in Dublin in 1946 and joined MMM in 1964. After profession she trained as a social worker at University College Dublin, obtaining an Honours B. Soc. Sc. Degree. In 1970 she founded and worked in the Community Services Centre in Drogheda.
In 1972 Mairead was assigned to Kenya and for two and a half years she was coordinator of women’s development in Eldoret Diocese, working to improve the quality of life of local women. This was followed by two years in social work in the IMTH (Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital) in Drogheda and in mission awareness.
