Visitation was a priority for our Foundress Catherine McAuley. Conscious of that reality we always held the ministry of visitation as a necessary and important part of our role as Sisters of Mercy. As Primary School Teachers we were keenly aware of the value of visiting the homes of our students. This gave us a fuller understanding of each student’s family circumstances, thus enabling us to have an awareness of the needs of the whole child as well as their academic needs. As members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society back in the 1980’s, we continued to experience the value of home visitation. Visiting the homes allowed us to be really present to the person and see beyond the material requests and very often taught us that “presence” was more important than “present /gift”. During a period of family ministry, when in a caring role, we experienced first hand the real value of a visit to the home. Not only did visits bring joy to the one being cared for but it was a wonderful support to the Carer. A little oasis in what might often be a lonely place.
Having retired from formal ministry and in our suitable circumstances we saw the opportunity to reach out and share our time with the people in our parish. Hence, we started visiting Nursing homes, hospitals and parishioners in their own homes. We also made a conscious decision to visit the members of our communities in our cluster. At this point, we could honestly say that we found this to be a most rewarding, fulfilling, life-giving experience – maybe even more so for us than those we visited.
Through visitation we have had the privilege of meeting and connecting with people where they are at in life. We share their dreams, hopes, concerns, joys and sorrows.
Through our presence we support them in the difficult times never missing an opportunity to enhance our encounters with humour, a song, hymns, a prayer and a good “belly-laugh”.
COVID-19 prevented us from physically visiting so we took refuge in the pen, the phone, WhatsApp and prayer “from a distance“. We are now looking forward to better days ahead and a return to visiting in person again.
Visiting is two-way. In every encounter we realise how much people appreciate and value our presence. Taking the time to sit at the “hearth” of ones abode and listening attentively to the pains, joys, anxieties of another’s heart has brought us to our knees on many occasions. It has kept us finetuned to the many difficulties people face in their own realities at this time and our support and concern for them has become a reality for us in our prayer. We continue to be amazed at how little acts of kindness bring such joy even to the darkest moments.
Our encounters very often reflect the bible story of The Visitation – Mary greeting Elizabeth and sharing the joy of “presence” with and in each other. Sometimes when meeting vulnerability in the other it feels like a “real presence” experience – a Eucharistic moment. We are forever mindful of these precious moments which we reflect upon with deep gratitude. No doubt there have been less positive encounters and they present their own challenge – to always listen with the ears of the heart. There have been times when looking we failed to see – when listening we failed to hear. We can never underestimate the real value and comfort of a cheerful smile, a knowing wink and a gentle touch.
Mary Freeman rsm and Mary Kenny rsm
Southern Province
