Sister Helen Reynolds – Mary Catherine (Mai)
Helen, born in Crossdrumman, a rural farming area in Co Leitrim, the youngest of a family of six, three boys and three girls. Her parents Patrick and Ellen were hard working as they cared for and provided for the needs of their family, with emphasis on a good education for each of them. Helen recalls the love and care received as a child: “One thing I remember was that I used to love getting home from school on a cold day, Mammy would sit me by the fire and have a lovely hot dinner off the pan! She sat with me and helped with my homework.”
In 1938, two Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions visited her school, “looking for healthy girls willing to join the foreign missions.” Helen was 13 when she felt the call and with surprise and support from her parents she set off, a year later, at the age of 14, with a group of girls to attend secondary school in Hastings England, excited about the first step in responding to her desire to go on the missions. Naturally at such a young age, she struggled with the culture and traditions of another country but soon settled. During this time World War Two was raging and Helen’s parents begged
her to come home for safety. It was too dangerous. Her parents were unable to travel to the UK for her First Profession which took place in private. After this Helen was sent to Deal to look after the boarders. This was a scary place with war sounds echoing from across the Channel and often protection from raids was required as Sisters used the cellar. The house was riddled with shell holes.
It was such a joy for Helen to see her family when they arrived in Hastings for her Final Profession after a lapse of 10 years. Throughout her life, connection with family was important for Helen – she was deeply loved by extended family. After Final Profession Helen spent 13 years back in Deal caring for boarders with some years in Sturry, Leyland and Killiney, before training and gaining her nursing qualification at Northwick Park Hospital London. Her innate gifts of respect for the person, patience, kindness, empathy and caring came to the fore during this time. Immediately following her training Helen was missioned to Kenya where she spent 40 years, ‘the happiest years of my life.’ Lucy Wambui recalls; ‘Helen reached out to the sick and all those in and around Karinga knew her. Her love of people is something that is remembered. She gave many years of her life to our beloved country Kenya and to our people.’ Helen was a strong courageous missionary woman. She opened a health dispensary in the new mission at Karinga where her zest for life, pleasant outgoing personality and liveliness helped to support many people who travelled long distances in difficult circumstances. This dispensary went from strength to strength – from a ‘shed’ where patients were treated initially, to a beautiful health centre where good care and help was provided. With the help of a vehicle, sponsored from the UK, a mobile clinic operated well, helping to treat many people unable to travel a distance. Helen cared for and welcomed all.
Again, Lucy Wambui writes: ‘Helen was the first RNDM I met in Karinga… she welcomed me to the community, and the hospitality of the Karinga community is one of the things that attracted me very strongly to the RNDMs. Helen and the community travelled a number of times to my home to try and talk to my mother who was adamant that I should not become a religious…language was never a barrier…it is a long story… she was a woman of the people.’
After 30 years nurturing and caring for the people in greatest need, setting up and training others to take over the dispensary and mobile clinic, Helen moved to Nairobi. The 10 years spent there, helping with solidarity correspondence and home care hospitality, and above all sharing her warm, open disposition with all who came in contact with her, is remembered with gratitude. Her pleasant outgoing nature made it possible for many to share their life stories. Margaret Scott writes of Helen: ‘I had the privilege of meeting her in Kenya when our group stayed in Nairobi on our way to South Sudan. She was a vibrant presence in the community and certainly encouraged us and supported us on our journey. May she be at peace now after her long life of generous giving. As you celebrate the life of Helen, I am united with you in giving God thanks for who she was and for her missionary zeal.’
With a heavy but grateful heart Helen left Kenya in 2010 and returned to the community at Churchtown, Dublin. She appreciated having the space and time to relax and reconnect with family and friends. She carried a depth of gratitude for this opportunity to catch up with younger generations of family that she missed while she was away. Her wisdom, sense of humour and happy disposition continued to be gift to others in community. However, in 2019 it became necessary for Helen to avail of the care and help at St Anne’s Sturry. Initially she struggled with moving but as a true RNDM missionary woman she happily accepted and spent four happy years in Sturry. During this time Helen’s interest in people, her sense of humour and gift of hospitality continued to be shared. She valued and was truly grateful for the care she received from the sisters and staff and all who helped her there. After her long, rich, and faithful missionary life God
called Helen to her Eternal Home on July 19th, 2023.
The thanksgiving Mass, celebrating Helen and her long, fruitful missionary life, was led by Father Anthony Charlton from St Thomas’s Canterbury, accompanied by St Anne’s Community and staff, Euphrasie Barbier Community, Sr Catherine Corrigan, Province Leader, Margaret Doherty Team Member, Sisters from Beech Court, members of Helen’s family – nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews – a wonderful tribute and acknowledgement of affection, respect and gratitude for the long life and happy death of Helen.
Helen is laid to rest in the cemetery in Sturry.
Rest in peace Helen. You will be missed.
‘Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories. (Ronald Regan)