A dream of Africa - but instead, ‘life giving’ ministries in England

Sister Teresa Kennedy

I was born and grew up in rural Ireland, in a small village in County Tipperary. We were a typically good Catholic family and my four siblings and I inherited a deep spirituality from our parents. Because of a severe whooping cough illness, I did not go to school until I was seven.  During the preceeding year I occupied myself with religious magazines and books, of which there were many in our home, and thus was born the early stages of a call - which later materialised in my entry to religious life.

At the age of 11 I transferred from our local primary school to the Mercy convent school in a nearby town. Here I completed my primary school education and went on to their senior school, Maria Regina College, where I studied for the remainder of my school years.

Because the call to religious life had slowly but surely grown during my school years, I felt ready to enter immediately afterwards, despite the fact that I had been leading a very active social life for the previous two years - taking part in all kinds of Irish dancing events. It was this activity I felt I would miss most on entering, but thankfully within months I found a peace in my decision that surpassed everything else.

My main attraction to Presentation way of life was the possibility of mission life, Africa in particular. But by the time I had finished University and was finally professed, civil war had broken out in Zimbabwe and Sisters were not going out, so I was sent to England instead where I have remained ever since and have had the privilege of being involved in many fruitful, life-giving ministries.

Of my many ministries -  teaching, catechetical advisory work, vocation ministry, University chaplaincy, work with young adult communities, a year assisting our NGO at the UN and latterly retreat work and spiritual accompaniment - it is difficult to say which gave me the greatest joy. Being a ‘people person’ each one held its own opportunity to share life and to be the good news, but I guess where I am now, working with people who thirst for a deeper relationship with the Lord, is where I am happiest to be.

My year at the UN was perhaps the most memorable, as one felt one was right in the middle of all the problem events world wide and in some way was in a position to contribute to happier outcomes. It was also the meeting place of many like-minded individuals!

Participating in Caring Church Weeks in schools which I did for many years, I was often asked if I regretted becoming a Sister -  to which I could always answer …not once! The call to give one’s life to God is a gift and a privilege and one for which I am forever grateful.