Southill Family Resource Centre – Pride of Place

Health Matters Naturally is a community based project in Southill Family Resource Centre in Limerick. This oasis of healing and peace was initiated by Sr. Maura O’Connor, a qualified Complementary Practitioner as well as being a nurse and midwife. Southill is a great community with great people, but, unfortunately, the Celtic Tiger forgot we exist and this has greatly impacted on life here. Every indicator used to measure health has generally shown a low score.

For the past eleven years, Maura, in the true Mercy spirit of welcome, care and generosity, has helped restore energy and provided healing for the people of Southill Community and far beyond. This has been life changing for many people. It is not unusual to hear comments such as; “Since I visited Maura I feel so much better”.

Some months ago Health Matters Naturally was nominated for the Pride of Place Awards in the Community Health Category. We were delighted when it secured its place in the Finals. People who had personal experience of visiting Maura for Bio-Resonance Testing, Smoking Cessation, Indian Head Massage or Reiki, spoke convincingly of their experience to the judges who visited the Resource Centre prior to the Finals, which were held in Gorey, Co Wexford on November 5th, 2011.

You’ve guessed it! Maura and Health Matters Naturally, won first prize in this 32 county competition. The air of joy and celebration is palpable in Southill Family Resource and in the local community. In fact this is the first time that Limerick City has been the recipient of first prize in the Pride of Place competition.

Sr. Maura O’Connor

This recognition of something so positive in our community, which has experienced too many setbacks, has put a smile on faces and renewed hope.

Congratulations to Maura and to the staff of Southill Family Resource Centre.

Phyllis Moynihan rsm
South Central Province