Community building in Chile & caring for the street children of Romania

Sr Christina Dolan

Whilst still in school with some wonderful nuns, I was impressed by their simple but profound goodness and their devotion to the children, especially to the most in need. At that time, I read a short account of the life of their foundress and immediately could see clearly where they were coming from. It was Presentation life and I knew that I definitely wanted to be part of that.

Over a period of sixty-plus years, the Presentation charism has taken me around England to work in several schools, from Lincolnshire to Surrey to Manchester. For Sisters,  'retirement' is a non-event, so after some time, I was lucky enough to be temporarily sent to minister in Chile to assist in a Catechesis/Community Development Project. Three very happy years and I would gladly have stayed. 

But Sisters move on when another mission beckons and for me, this was a call to the neglected children of Romania, after the collapse of Communism. Teaching English was welcomed but, even more so, the emotional and physical care of street children. Eight unforgettable years and I return there when I can to visit a wonderful welcoming people.

Now living in the Matlock community, there is ample opportunity for an elderly Sister to be useful: answering phones, welcoming visitors, running little errands for the less able and praying.  It needs to be stressed that prayer is not just an afterthought to be carried out in retirement - far from it! A life of prayer runs like a golden thread through every day of active ministry, it is the foundation of a Presentation Sister's life.