This year we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sr AnnMarie McGeever and Sr Micheline O’Donnell, marking fifty years of dedicated service as Religious Sisters of Charity. In a special feature, they reflect on their lives and ministries.
On Sunday afternoons, one of the sisters was responsible for holding the St Agnes Guild meeting in the parish hall, I would have attended this until I was about twelve or thirteen, and then I attended the Children of Mary on a Monday night. Through these meetings we got an opportunity to get to know the sisters very well.
The year I left school, I went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the parish and one of the sisters was part of the group, it was here that I began to think of a religious vocation and felt a deep desire to serve God.
Following on from the trip to Lourdes I began working in a bank but I continued to meet occasionally with one of the sisters to talk about how I was feeling and what steps I might take next. I distinctly remember asking her on a number of occasions “tell me what it is really like?” and the answer never varied it was always ‘Go and See.’ After some time, I made contact with the sisters in Milltown and entered Mount St Annes in October 1975. The attraction to the Sisters of Charity was simply the variety of ministries that they were involved in.
After profession in 1978, I was missioned to St Patrick’s Kilkenny, a centre for children/young adults with intellectual disabilities. After two years working with a group there , I went to Galway to train as a nurse, later returning to St Patricks where I remained until 1993. I then went to St Vincent’s Hospital Dublin for further training; Dublin was to become my home base from that time onwards.
In 1996 when I had completed my training course, I made a thirty-day retreat in Manresa, it was an experience which brought with it many challenges but also great moments of spiritual fulfilment and personal growth.
I worked in St Vincent’s Hospital for eight years, mainly in a section of the radiology dept. This work brought me into contact with many people and offered countless opportunities to give them a little bit of time, a listening ear and certainly to show understanding and compassion.
My next assignment was as Local Leader in Merrion, this was a huge change and a challenge but a very fulfilling experience and an opportunity to get to know Sisters at a deeper level. After my time in Merrion, I spent time in both Walkinstown and Stanhope Street.
For a number of years, I was a member of the vocation/formation team within the Province, this too was an opportunity for spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of who we are, as well getting to know Sisters better. I was also able to visit other areas of the congregation for which I am very grateful.
Life has changed greatly over the past fifty years, but I look back with gratitude for the many blessings I have received. I have known and appreciate deeply, companionship and friendship, and at times challenge but always with prayerful support, especially during a time of illness when I truly felt carried by the prayers of so many. I believe understanding, compassion, the ability to support and reach out to others are attributes I would like to believe I have, and I hope that I can pass them on to others.
Sr Micheline O Donnell:
On reflecting on her golden jubilee milestone Sr Micheline shared the following
I am very grateful for the many sisters who touched my life and supported me over the years. Close friends have been a blessing for me. I spent my last six years in Nigeria as Regional Leader and felt very supported by the Congregation during this time.
