{"id":789,"date":"2012-01-10T08:45:36","date_gmt":"2012-01-10T08:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/?page_id=789"},"modified":"2015-07-06T16:19:30","modified_gmt":"2015-07-06T16:19:30","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-of","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/our-ministries\/a-day-in-the-life-of\/","title":{"rendered":"A day in the life of…"},"content":{"rendered":"

…. PARISH – pastoral work<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThere are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Since having to take early retirement some twenty years ago my ministry is pastoral work in an ever-expanding Parish.<\/p>\r\n

This involves mainly visiting the elderly at home or in Nursing Homes, the housebound, the lonely, the sick, the bereaved and parents of children being prepared for the Sacraments.\u00a0 It also includes facilitating the preparation for the Sacraments by organising meetings for parents and children and preparing the group leaders and catechists for their role in this work.\u00a0 Working closely with school staff is essential in all this.\u00a0 Each week I visit our two Primary Schools.<\/p>\r\n

I accompany and instruct those interested in the Faith and in becoming full members of the Church.<\/p>\r\n

In addition, I help to organise Parish functions that help to build up the community \u2013 be they social or fund-raising for charity.\u00a0 I also support all activities where I live.<\/p>\r\nThis variety of ministries is challenging, inspirational and rewarding.\r\n

\u2018Til God will.\u2019<\/p>\r\nSr Anna<\/em>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n…. A REFLECTION \u2013 the twilight years<\/span>\r\n

I sometimes use a river as a metaphor for my life\u2019s story.\u00a0 This allows me to select a particular phase of my life, or a significant life experience, to focus on and so become more aware of the pattern of God\u2019s dealing with me, where I am being led, and how to respond.\u00a0 As I look back on my life as a Loreto Sister, I marvel at how gently I was led along what the psalmist calls \u201cright paths\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

My first foreign missionary experience in South Africa, 1949 \u2013 1962, brought me face to face with the injustice of apartheid, an experience of waiting in hope.\u00a0 Then came a missioning to Kenya. It was 1963, the year Independence was declared, and a new self-governing nation was born.\u00a0 I was privileged to be part of it.\u00a0 A high point was teaching in Loreto Limuru, a National School, for ten years.\u00a0 This was the first Catholic school for girls in Kenya and it opened in December 1936 with seven pupils.\u00a0 34 years later, the first intake of A Level students coincided with my time of arrival. \u00a0It was a joy and a challenge to be part of the growth and development of these young women who would, in time, make huge contributions to the place of women in society and to the development of the nation.<\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/a>In 1988, after re-training, I joined the staff of the University of Nairobi working in the Chaplaincy, in the Dean of Students Office, spending a day a week, working as a Counsellor, at the University Health Clinic.\u00a0 These were 12 of the most treasured years of my life.<\/p>\r\n

In 2000 having been privileged to work in Africa for 50 years it was time to return to these Isles and allow our Kenyan Sisters contribute to the growth of their Church.\u00a0 Transitions are never easy.\u00a0 There was a time of doubt, loneliness, a deep sense of loss.\u00a0 From experience I knew that the One who is The Way would direct me.<\/p>\r\n

A Seven Week Sabbatical, followed by an invitation to join the staff of the Kinnoull\"\"<\/a> Spirituality Centre\u00a0led me into yet another new Ministry.\u00a0 Soon I felt at home and was privileged to walk with the individuals and Groups who came seeking rest and spiritual renewal.\u00a0\u00a0 What a graced time, what a privileged time!\u00a0 The programme included a Celtic Spirituality Course with a weekend trip to Iona.\u00a0 I loved those pilgrimages.\u00a0 Time spent on the island was inspirational, unforgettable.<\/p>\r\nAs I re-visit my sacred story I feel humbled and very grateful for the many gifts.\r\n\r\nGermaine\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 March 2012.<\/em>\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\u00a0…. Ministry with Asylum Seekers<\/span>\r\n

\u2018We need volunteers to contribute to the development of a new Centre <\/em><\/p>\r\n

to welcome and support asylum seekers coming to the U.K.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\r\n

If you are able to give us some time please telephone 0845\u2026\u2026 and come and see us\u2019<\/em><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\r\nSeeing that note in the parish newsletter 15 years ago, I was deeply moved to spend some time trying to make a difference<\/em><\/strong> to those who were no doubt in great suffering.\r\n\r\nWithout hesitation, I made an appointment and was welcomed, that very week, to the drop-in day and was plunged at the deep end.\u00a0 An asylum seeker named Alice, walked in the door and poured out her story, telling us how she had been tortured in her country and had no option but to flee.\r\n\r\nThis was my first time touching someone who had been tortured. My listening skills soon came into play, giving Alice my full attention and compassion while putting into practice the rules of avoiding enmeshment if Alice was to be helped.\r\n\r\nI remember how that day we cut into small pieces the one pizza that one volunteer had brought and we shared it amongst us with tea and coffee.\u00a0 Three clients with similar stories visited the Centre that day.\r\n\r\nAs the weeks passed by, the number of visitors increased and the day we welcomed seven visitors, it felt like a large crowd.\r\n\r\nThe Centre developed rapidly.\u00a0 Today we welcome an average of 80 visitors on any drop-in day and the small room has expanded to three floors. The staff of one Manager, one Advice Worker and 5 volunteers has increased to 5 paid staff made up of a Centre Manager and her Assistant, 2 Advice Workers and 1 Counselor.\u00a0 Additional staff comprises 3 more Advice Workers, 2 English teachers, health visitors, experienced Job finders who help with CVs, interviews, and an average of 20 to 30 volunteers who come on different days.\r\n\r\nApart from the more skilled advice given by those trained Advice Workers who deal with the Home office, my role is Jack of all trades, from accompanying a client\/visitor to court and sometimes accompanying a traumatised client to the hospital for a HIV test, to serving tea\/coffee or cleaning the floor or playing with a child whose mother is busy sorting out a problem with an Advice Worker or registering new clients – listening and compassion being key to minimizing the appalling suffering of our visitors.\r\n\r\nAbility to make a difference<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 How do I know that this is the case?\r\n\r\nI let someone cry and hit the wall to release her anger at the injustices she is going through.\r\n\r\nAn Advice Worker told me later that a visitor told her, \u2018I do not know the name of the lady who was with me when I was so angry, but she let me be\u2026 and I was greatly helped<\/em>\u2019.\r\n\r\nAnother time someone came back looking for me and told me, \u2018Do you remember the time you spent on the phone advocating for me?\u00a0 My bills were greatly reduced then as you insisted that I could not pay\u2026I want to thank you most sincerely\u2019.<\/em>\r\n\r\nThe atmosphere in our team is outstanding, there is no power struggle but great support and companionship amongst ourselves, all peppered with a terrific sense of humour!\r\n\r\nDifficult to replace are those links in a team bonded for fifteen years amongst a group of people who work with the same goal of alleviating the suffering of people from whom we receive much more than we are ever able to give.\r\n\r\nAn IBVM Sister\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n

\u00a0\u00a0…. Creative Retirement<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\u2018Creative Retirement\u2019 gives one the chance to do many things all in the name of ministry.\u00a0 When I started out, I taught primary school pupils and over the years I was able to watch them grow and develop into adults of whom I could be justifiably proud.\u00a0 This was evident when I met up with many past pupils in Toronto a few years ago.\u00a0 They had not only grown into splendid women but had adapted to their new country and were holding down very good posts in various fields of the public and private sectors.\u00a0 On that occasion, I was able to assure them that their former teachers remember them daily in prayer \u2013 for our pupils past and present \u2013 a phrase we so often heard over the years.<\/span>\r\n\r\nRecently I heard Rabbi Pete Tobias during the morning \u2018Pause for Thought\u2019 and he said that we should remember with gratitude those who had helped us in any way during our lives.\u00a0 I thought about many of the people with whom I worked in Kenya and two in particular stand out.\u00a0 The one who unstintingly gave me time (during the holidays) and help to prepare French lessons when I was asked to teach the subject and the one who always had \u2018the kettle on\u2019 when I returned late from school meetings, either the usual Parents\u2019 meetings or fundraising ones.\u00a0 These meetings were a very necessary part of school life.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSince my return from Kenya I have had a sort of \u2018stop gap\u2019 ministry, (one has to admit that my size enabled me to fill a gap!) and was very happy to help in various areas of province life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nNow that \u201ccreative retirement\u201d is on the cards, I feel that availability<\/em> is a very useful thing to have and I am happy to help out where I can.\u00a0 Having watched the young pupils grow and bloom, I now watch the progress of the bulbs which I have planted in our garden and I look forward to a sea of daffodils and tulips in the not too distant future. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Sister Thomas More<\/em><\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n
\r\n

…. an Art Therapist<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nI work as an Art Therapist with children and adolescents who experience emotional distress.<\/span>\r\n\r\nA typical day involves an early start and I’m at my desk by 8.15 am where upon I catch up with my e-mails from the organisation I work for. Following this I see my first young patient at 8.30 am. The one-to-one session lasts 50 minutes – ‘the analytic hour’. During this time the young person has access to the Art Therapy room in which his\/her art folder, art box and a carefully selected range of toys are available.<\/span>\r\n\r\nI sit beside the art table while the child gathers up paints or other art materials and begins to work. My stance is one of an interested adult. I wait while the communication from the child, both verbal and non-verbal emerges. When I find I have something helpful to say, I say it. But, until then I wait in quiet facilitation of the process. Usually quite a lot happens during the time we are together. Images evolve or the child uses toys to create images or scenarios thus we work together to grow in understanding of what these images mean for the child.<\/span>\r\n

As the session draws to a close, I work carefully with the ending, as the ending of sessions and indeed endings of therapy offer the child\/young person the opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings about such issues as separation and loss. In brief, we work with the child’s internal world where through art and play any blocks to healthy development can be addressed and worked with.<\/span><\/p>\r\nWhen the session is over, I take the child back to the waiting room where hopefully a parent or guardian has been waiting. There is a quietly handled transition as the child reconnects with his\/her external world.\u00a0 Following this, my day involves either further sessions for other referred children, administrative duties, team meetings or time to process and think about the children.<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a><\/span>\r\n\r\nWhen the day’s work is done, I return home and I give some time to prayerful reflection.<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAn IBVM Art Therapist<\/span><\/em><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

…. PARISH – pastoral work \u201cThere are all sorts ofRead More<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":490,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"rise-blocks_excerpt":"…. PARISH – pastoral work \u201cThere are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord.\u201d Since having to take early retirement some twenty years ago my ministry is pastoral work in an ever-expanding Parish. This involves mainly visiting the elderly at home or in Nursing Homes, the housebound, the lonely, the sick, the bereaved and..","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=789"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21689,"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions\/21689"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ibvm.org.uk\/new4\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}