Seoul, 1984
Front row: Sisters Laurentia, Mary Dillon, Ellen Keating
2nd row: Sisters Mary Zita, Rose Dineen, Rosarii, Enda, Brid and Martha
3rd+4th row: Sisters Philomena, Stephanie, Regis, Mary Ita, Elizabeth Taaffe, Joan McDermott, Cecily
Back row: Sisters Mary McHugh, Evelyn Mannion, Roberta Ryan, Ita Hannaway, Kathleen McHugh, Mary Nugent, Pamela Casey, Geraldine Ryan and Mary Luke
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We continue to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our cherished association and connection with Korea with reflections of Sisters who spent time there over the decades. We have also found some wonderful old photos in the treasure trove of our Archives to share.
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It was lovely to be asked to contribute to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of our Sisters mission in Korea. It got me recollecting the memories of my very enriching 26 years’ mission experience there.
It started with the arrival of four sisters, namely Sr. Kathleen McHugh, Margaret Moran RIP, Mary Ita O’Brien & Monica Kelly in September 1974.
It was during the Dictatorship of President Park Chung Hee and under Marshall Law, so we learned early of the control and monitoring of movements, speech and of phone calls. Foreigners were especially suspect. The Bishop of Wonju was in prison for his criticism of abuse of Human Rights of his people and all the priests of his Diocese, who were mostly Columbans staged a protest by wearing beards & long hair. Phone messages were in riddles to try to communicate. We got involved in the protest marches from early days even though we had no idea what we were saying but it had its effect in bringing some relaxation and releasing of the Bishop.
Our arrival was cushioned with the welcome we received from Sr. Cecily McMahon and Sister Brid Kenny who ran the central House in Seoul and initiated us into this new world with its culture and customs. Very soon we were enrolled in Korean Language classes and gradually began our initiation into the intricacies of patterns, structures into this new method of communicating and learning the connection between speech and relating with people. There was much to learn and we made many mistakes on the road.
These were the first steps that led me into a wonderful experience of sharing life with people like ourselves – who came through the devastation of wars, poverty and sufferings and today are at the forefront in the world of sciences, medicine and manufacturing – and in all areas.
I experienced sharing life and learning from these Korean people in the Clinic in Chuncheon and in outreach work with the poor and neglected in the area learning first from great Sisters like Sr. Zita McLouglin and Sr. Martha Keenan who never tired in their care and compassion for those in most need of care.
I then was assigned to Young Ju, Kyung Sang Buk to follow Sr. Margaret Morgan and Sr. Rita Moore in their work in the Hospital for Leprosy patients. This was for me a special privilege as I was welcomed by people who were stigmatized because they got infected by the Bacillus, didn’t get diagnosed and treated in time and had to be isolated from their community and carried scars for the rest of their lives.
Working with these people was an honour, as part of their treatment we used wax therapy by first soaking the affected limb in hot wax for a few minutes – and after removing the wax the patient got one to one massage, physiotherapy, this was therapeutic both physically and holistically as it gave the opportunity for the patient to share some of the pain and story they have been coping with – and it brings some relief. Patients can sometimes find it easier to share something so personal with a foreigner and for me it was an honour to be in this privileged ministry.
Sr Monica Kelly
Hallim, 1960s: with Sister Brid Kenny
Mokpo, 1978: Sister Margaret Moran receives a friendly visitor with her baby
