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My life’s journey began in Rathmullan, Co. Donegal where I was born to Frank and Mary Kate Mc Menamin, the last of six girls and one boy. We were a happy catholic family and brought up in a simple way as was typical of family life at the time. After primary school in Rathmullan, I spent five happy years in Loreto Convent, Letterkenny
and am ever grateful to the Loreto Sisters for a good education. We were encouraged to take part in sewing cloths etc.
for annual sales of work to support the African and Indian missions. This was an orientation for later life! |
Within the family, prayer was a priority – daily rosary, daily Mass whenever possible and this perhaps directed me towards religious life. Loreto was not an option as I feared I would be teaching at home if I joined them! Information about the Sisters of Our Lady of apostles sent by an SMA seminarian of the time inspired me to contact Ardfoyle and in 1960 I entered.
Postulancy followed by novitiate in Rostrevor soon passed and in 1963 I was appointed to go to Ghana.
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Twelve days at sea on board the Apapa with two other OLA Sisters brought us to Accra where a whole new world opened up for me. I taught in Cape Coast for nearly three years and then returned to UCC to study. In 1974 after doing a formation course and mission promotion in Ireland for a number of years, we went to begin a new mission in Zambia teaching with the Sacred Heart Sisters. Later we moved to a Government Secondary on the Copperbelt teaching and participating in the Young Christian Student movement –a great learning experience! Six happy years were spent in Zambia but due to shortage of personnel we were recalled to move to other missions. With a team of two Sisters I spent six years forming a young Diocesan Congregation in Ghana. It was another fine experience even if difficult at times. Ghana was going through a very difficult economic crisis. We had little of what people might call the daily comforts but were happy sharing the life of those around us. Back to Ireland and later to Rome for ten years I was involved in leadership of the Congregation. On the one hand it was a privileged time giving me the rich experience of seeing all our OLA foundations in 19 countries and I can only thank God for the wonder of touching the life and work of so many missionaries. On the other hand it was a very big challenge but the guiding line of my life was to seek God’s will and God’s way for life’s mission. God’s constant presence was “my rock and my salvation”! Finishing in Rome I had some sabbatical time and then I was asked to join our mission in Argentina. I managed to learn and speak enough Spanish to be able to communicate! The people with whom I lived and worked were wonderful. In the Parishes we worked with the Basic Christian Communities where God’s Word inspired all prayer and activities – the Bible was an everyday companion for most people. Each week we had a meeting and shared on the Sunday Gospel. From that we drew our decisions as to who should be helped and how to provide what was necessary. People had very little but that little was shared with neighbours in need. Sharing the life of some of the poorest is a privilege as they really do evangelise us – as true in Africa as in Argentina. The spirit of OLA has always been precious to me – we are grounded in the Cenacle as were the Apostles with Mary, spending time in prayer, daily and at other special times, and then sent out on mission to share the Good News with all with whom we live and work. The challenge continues! We are now in the process of forming a Lay Mission Movement in Ireland to share that OLA spirit. If you are interested please contact us! lmm@olaireland.ie
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| back to our story.... |
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| If you are interested in a life serving God following the Charism of the OLA Congregation, Contact us on |
| labyrinth@olaireland.ie |
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Sisters
of Our Lady of Apostles
