Teaching children and serving the homeless in Scunthorpe and Birmingham

Sr Eleanor O’Gorman

I met the Presentation Sisters while training to be a teacher and about a year later joined the congregation. Following my novitiate in Manchester, I first lived in a community in Ashby, Scunthorpe and taught in the primary school there. 

As well as teaching I enjoyed helping some of the other sisters in preparing and distributing soup and sandwiches to those who were homeless or in need in the town. The community were involved in the life of the parish too and I joined the parish music group, encouraging children and young people to participate in the liturgy.

I went on to teach in primary schools in Birmingham and then Stockport. I enjoyed teaching, especially providing children with opportunities to learn and to see God as a loving presence in their lives. Being part of different communities has meant we spend time in prayer, sharing our faith and supporting one another in our ministries and in the joys and sorrows of life. This helps us to remember to celebrate and be grateful for all that God has given us.

I now live back in Birmingham and am an education volunteer with CAFOD, visiting schools and raising awareness about issues of global justice such as climate change and fair access to water. These issues are close to our hearts as Presentation Sisters as we are called to ‘live contemplatively, walk lightly on earth and witness prophetically.’ I also volunteer with Tabor House, a project which gives support to those experiencing homelessness.