April 1925 – May 13th, 2022
Sr. Raphael was born Margaret Mildred in April 1925. She was born in Athlone, Co. Westmeath and this is where Mildred had her early education at the local convent school. The desire to be a missionary came early and Mildred joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary when she was eighteen. This was just six years after the Congregation was founded. She took the religious name of Sister Mary Raphael. She was a bright girl and had done well in her Leaving Certificate so she was encouraged to study medicine. She began these studies while still in the initial religious formation period. As a student, she lived in Rosemount, Dublin, and helped the fund-raising effort by becoming an expert bee-keeper!
After completing her medical studies which included a year’s post-graduation training in Drogheda, she was immediately assigned to Tanzania and was the Medical Officer in charge of Dareda Hospital for two years.
Unfortunately, she soon became ill and had to return to Drogheda for rest and recuperation. After this, a small change in direction in her medical career took place. Off she went to London to study Ophthalmology. This was a three-year Diploma course and on her return to Ireland she worked for a year in Dublin before travelling to her next missionary assignment. This time it was to Nigeria, St. Luke’s Hospital in Anua. She loved the work but many Sisters had to return to Ireland during the civil war which broke out in 1967. Sr. Raphael came in 1968 and worked for several years in various hospitals in England and Wales. She did have the opportunity to return to Nigeria briefly with a Caritas emergency relief team in December 1969.
In 1973, Sr. Raphael was asked to brush up on her obstetric skills in Waterford Maternity Hospital in preparation for yet another missionary assignment. This time it was to Tanzania and for five years she worked as a doctor in Dareda and Namanyere hospitals.
When Sr. Raphael returned from overseas mission, she continued in active ministry in Ireland. She helped in the guest department in Beechgrove while keeping up her medical eye clinics with the North Eastern Health Board, also in Kildare. In 1986, she was involved in a severe car accident and it took her some time to recover after that. She finally found a ministry which she gratefully enjoyed. She was given the title of Audio-visual Archivist at the Communications Department, but in reality, she was the “go to” person when you wanted something done! She went on trips all over the country bringing communication material and messages all over the place. As a pensioner, she had a free travel pass which she enjoyed immensely.
Sr. Raphael had a cheerful and happy disposition. She lived simply and had great devotion to the Rosary.
Finally, Sr. Raphael came back to the Beechgrove community to retire and moved to Aras Mhuire for extra care in July 2014. She had many happy years in the Nursing Home and slipped away peacefully in the early morning of May, 13th, 2022. She is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Drogheda.
September 1st 1933 – April 29th 2022
Sr. Deirdre Twomey, baptised Eileen Deirdre, was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1933. Her father, Jeremiah Twomey was Irish and although Deirdre’s early education was in Wales and England, the Irish ties were strong and the family eventually moved back to Dublin. Deirdre entered MMM immediately after she finished her secondary education, aged eighteen. As was customary in those early days of MMM, her professional studies were integrated, as far as possible, with her early religious formation and she went almost immediately to study medicine in University College, Dublin, graduating in 1957. She had her intern year in Drogheda and was sent almost immediately to Nigeria.
Most of Deirdre’s life was spent in Afikpo in Nigeria. She arrived there in 1958, a newly-qualified doctor, and was immediately given responsibility as the Medical Officer. Deirdre spent almost forty years of her life in Afikpo, but she also worked for shorter periods in Abakaliki, Ikom and Ibadan.
She was an excellent doctor, tireless and dedicated to the last. Later she upgraded and became a Consultant Obstetrican/Gynacologist thus saving the lives of many women in labour and their babies. She also taught and trained young doctors to continue the work, as well as teaching and consulting in Natural Family Planning throughout the Diocese. She was also involved in the education of General Practitioners. For a short period during the 1980s, Deirdre came back to Ireland to care for her mother who was aging and needed care. She took the time for some spiritual renewal attending night classes in Milltown Park, Dublin and did manage to get relief from within the family to go back to her beloved Nigeria during the summer!
When the hospital in Afikpo was handed back to the Diocese, Sr. Deirdre went to Abakaliki and worked there in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for another eleven years. But she is fondly remembered in Afikpo where a statue was erected to her memory. She finally returned to Ireland in 2011 after fifty-three years of dedication to the women and children of Nigeria.
On her return to Ireland, Deirdre threw herself into ministry once again. She was based in Dublin and there her many talents had great scope. She was an enthusiastic communicator, keeping a daily diary all of her life, corresponding with family, friends and doctors all over the world. She was artistic, making beautiful birthday and feast cards; and always prepared the crib at Christmas. Photography was another feature of her life and she took excellent photos of events over the years. While in Dublin she also contributed to Mission Awareness, frequently speaking in Parishes around the country, telling the people of her experiences in Nigeria and encouraging them to support us.
She only finally came back to the Motherhouse for extra care in 2021.
Deirdre was always a happy, cheerful person. She was devoted to her family and visited them regularly as long as her health allowed.
Her last illness came on suddenly and we were all saddened by her death in Aras Mhuire on April 29th, 2022. She is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Drogheda
May 1927 – April 19th 2022
Sr. Maureen Ita was born in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, in May 1927, one of five children. All her siblings have pre-deceased her. She was educated locally at the convent schools and joined MMM just a year after finishing school. After her initial religious formation, she was not sent for further studies, but remained in Drogheda for nine years, one of the essential workers in the early days of the International Missionary Training Hospital (now, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital). In those days she was known as Sr. M. Joseph Enda, but she returned to her baptismal name later. As a grandniece of the then Archbishop, Cardinal MacCrory, she would have been widely known by all the visiting clergy. She worked at the “front end” of the hospital, in reception, in the shop, welcoming visitors and guests.
In 1957, Mother Mary asked her to go the Apostolic Nunciature in Dublin. There she was involved in the running of the household and her skills at welcoming people and making them feel at ease was well utilized. This was a three-year assignment after which she returned to Drogheda for a further three years. In 1960, another Nunciature assignment arose. This time to Ethiopia for a period of nine years.
On her return to Ireland and working in the hospital, Maureen Ita realised that a lot of the work she was doing was actually Pastoral Ministry and she began working with Sr. Eileen Carmel in Chaplaincy work. Her gentle personality was well suited to this ministry, reaching out to the patients on a more spiritual level. In the early 1980s she went to USA and did some units of Clinical Pastoral Education in Boston for qualification. On her return to Ireland, she worked in Cluan Mhuire, an Alcoholic Rehabilitation Centre in Newry with Sr. Consilio Fitzgerald.
Maureen Ita was always known to have a kind heart and a listening ear. She enjoyed the interaction with people and they seemed attracted by her kindness.
In 1995, she realised that her visually impaired sister, Eithne, in Dungannon, needed her help. This started a long process of care-giving and mutual support between the two sisters. Eithne eventually needed to be hospitalized in 2015 and Maureen Ita returned to Drogheda and was soon admitted to Aras Mhuire Nursing home for her own care needs. Her health remained stable for many years and she enjoyed the company of the Sisters and staff in Aras Mhuire. In 2022 her health began to decline and she died in the early morning of April 19th. She is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery.
July 1937 – January 30th 2022
Sr. Mary Teresa Reilly was born in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath in July 1937. Her early education was in local schools and she was trained as a secretary and book-keeper. For three years she worked as a clerk in a Galway firm before joining MMM in 1958.
Even during her initial religious formation, Sr. Mary Teresa’s administrative abilities were noted. Immediately after First Profession of Vows she was sent to the International Missionary Training Hospital (IMTH) and worked there for several years in clerical positions before finally being appointed as Hospital Administrator. During this period (1960-1974) Sr. Mary Teresa was constantly upgrading her professional Diplomas, achieving a Higher Diploma in Hospital and Health Services Administration.
In 1974, Sr. Mary Teresa went to Rome for a well-deserved break from administration and to pursue religious studies. Unfortunately, ill health made her return to Ireland and she was “grounded” for three years, helping out in the Archives Department. In 1977, she went to USA for three years as bursar and secretary. This was followed by a long stretch working at Congregational level, first as part of the Leadership Team (1979-1985) and then as Congregational Secretary (1985-1992).
In 1993 Sr. Mary Teresa went to Uganda. This was her first overseas missionary experience and she loved it all. She worked as Financial Controller and Complex Director at Kitovu Hospital for almost ten years.
On her return to Ireland, she was called upon again for her administrative abilities. This was a return to working at Congregational level as Congregational Secretary once more for ten years. In 2013, Sr. Mary Teresa finally retired to Drogheda. She was very involved in the setting up of the Mother Mary and Mission Rooms in Drogheda and had a great knowledge of and love for Mother Mary and MMM history.
Sr. Mary Teresa was meticulous in all her activities. A gentle, unassuming woman, she gave her All to whatever assignment she was given. She was a perfectionist, both in her professional and personal life which, among other things, included great attention to the celebration of the Liturgy. She was greatly drawn to Canon Law and attended several Summer Schools over the years. In her lighter moments, she enjoyed Bird Watching and playing the Mandolin.
She retired to the Motherhouse in 2013 and belonged to St. Patrick’s Community. She became Sacristan, busily preparing for the celebration of daily Mass and other Liturgical celebrations. She also continued her involvement in the Mother Mary Mission Room, showing visitors around and generally looking after the room. Over the years her health began to deteriorate and she became less active. Finally, she transferred to Áras Mhuire in May, 2021. Over the following months her health continued to disimprove and she died peacefully on January 30th, 2022, in the presence of Sr. Rita Higgins MMM and members of Staff. She is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Drogheda.
Nationality: Czech
Congregational Register No: 192
D.O.B. 16.08.1922
First Profession: 08.09.1950
Died: 06.02.1992 Aged: 69 years
Caritas, baptised Marie, came from Czechoslovakia and first heard of MMM when she arrived in Rome as a refugee. Because she was already in the field of nursing, she felt attracted to the healing mission of the congregation.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 242
D.O.B. 26.03.1928
First Profession: 07.09.1952
Died: 16.03.2000 Aged: 71 years
Born in Dublin and baptized Patricia, Sr. Petria had been working in a bank before she came to MMM on 3 October 1949.
She studied medicine in University College Dublin, taking first place in her final examinations. Medicine was to be her life’s work until she became unable to continue in 1992 because of failing health.
Sr. Edel was born in Walshestown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath in 1932. She attended a local primary school and completed her secondary education at the Dominican Convent, Muckross Park, Dublin. She was a Montessori teacher at Muckross Park and Sion Hill for a year. A friend joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary and in 1951, Edel decided she would do the same.
Sister Ann was born in Lifford, Co. Donegal in 1929, the youngest of three children. She attended her early education in Donegal, Dublin and Monaghan and joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1947. After profession she studied medicine in University College Dublin and obtained a Master of Obstetrics from the National Maternity Hospital.
Her first assignment was to Anua, Nigeria in 1959 and she served there for six years, with two years in charge of the maternity and gynaecology units. She then completed postgraduate studies at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, obtaining an MRCOG in 1968. She later obtained an FMCOG (Nigeria), an FRCOG, and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland in 1997.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 202
D.O.B.: 21.12.1891
First Profession: 08.09.1951
Died: 11.07.1963 Aged: 72 years
At the age of 57 and widowed, few of us would think of giving the rest of our lives to missionary activity, especially if we had a family of eight: sons, daughters and grandchildren. But Mrs. Ellen Walshe, with an address of Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, came willingly to MMM on 4 May 1948, entering in Rosemount.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No. 706
D.O.B. 12.03.1920
First Profession 03.04.1967
Died: 10.11.01 Aged: 81 years
Born in Ballina, Co. Mayo, Sr. Florence Walshe came from a family of eight children. The family moved to Fenagh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, while she was a child and this she regarded as home. Her father died when she was only 17, and Florence dedicated many of her early years to supporting the family. She took several jobs near home, but later went to the USA, where she trained in child care, geriatrics and convalescent care. She worked for several years as a companion to two elderly ladies.
