Ministry in teaching, special needs, homelessness, marginalised groups, care for creation : “a very fulfilling life”

Sr Carmel Clancy

My parents were farmers who lived in Moy, near the village of Lahinch in the west of Ireland; both Margaret and Michael went to America when young -  where they met, became engaged and came home to marry, settle down and have a family, eight of us in all.  We had a small farm so from an early age we helped out with the many chores.  I loved being outdoors with my dad in spite of the hard work.

My mother was determined that all of us be educated so I was sent to Mountmellick, in the Midlands, because she considered it too long a journey to cycle to the nearest secondary school.

When in primary school some Missionary Sisters visited and I was greatly moved by how they spoke of the people and their work as well as in how they were dressed! I decided that I would become a nun, and go to Africa but the idea soon left me.

Later, when the time for deciding on a career came the idea of becoming a nun returned but this time it persisted and I had this strong pull, strong desire, to give myself to God.  I thought of the Missions once again but our teacher Mother Brendan was very enthusiastic about the new house the Kildare and Leighlin Sisters had opened in Bicester, Oxfordshire so over time my allegiance turned from Africa to England and on 24/9/1954 I entered the Presentation Novitiate in Mount Saint Anne’s, near Portarlington, expressing a desire to go to England.

After qualifying to become a teacher in St. Paul’s, near Rugby, I spent 14 fulfilling years in mainstream primary, but when the eleven plus finished I felt that neither pupils nor parents were as interested in doing well as they previously were - so after a struggle with myself I moved into Special Education.  It was an eye opener for me and brought a new enthusiasm to my teaching.  After five  great years with teenagers who had  severe learning difficulties, where most of my teaching was around Social Skills,  I did a Diploma in Special Needs, in Hull.  It was a great course after which I secured a job with physically disabled children.  I loved every moment of each day from the moment I lifted the children from their wheelchairs on to their desk chairs and strapped them in.  One had to be constantly breaking down lessons into ever smaller parts, simplifying programmes to get points across, but they were vibrant years, full of interest.

Later, (in the late 1980s), the Head asked a group of us to resign to make way for new teachers to get employment; the Government was offering a financial incentive to all who did so.  It was a dreadfully difficult decision to make but as I had become very interested in homelessness I finally made the move and got a job in a Hostel for homeless men.  Once again this brought new life to me and I worked there for five years until someone asked me to consider working with Travellers and Gypsies.  When I asked him how long I had before I needed to apply, his reply was: “All your life - as no one has any great interest in this work.”  That decided me;  thus started another busy, exciting chapter in my life until I retired after 20 years because of a health problem.

I have had a very fulfilling life always close to people, open to their needs.  I have had many moving moments where people would speak freely of their closest problems, trusting me with their deepest confidences.

I have experienced many blessings as well as low times. On one occasion when I was being moved to another place I was very downhearted, very low on my last morning and then Leroy came in and gave me a rose.  As I unwrapped the paper it had “Ye did not Choose me but I Chose you” written by his mum; how that changed my day!

Alongside all the work, all the movement, I have always been faithful to my prayer-life, retreats, spiritual reading thus deepening my relationship with God and with people.

I have always had a big interest in the needs of people in the Global South, the Environment & Climate Change and have been part of a  Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Group since the late 1980s.

In recent years I have been the Province Archivist - another job I enjoy doing.   

Now in my older years I continue to find God in prayer, in people and in my own vulnerability.

Praise be to God.