(1962 – 1988)
I am a Roscommon girl, born a war baby on the 23rd of December, 1939, one of five children, four girls and one boy. My primary school education was in Granlahan, Ballinlough, Co Roscommon. I did my Leaving Certificate in St. Mary’s Secondary School in Ballinalsoe, Co Mayo in 1959 and I entered that September.
John F. Kennedy
The community had a foundation in Costa Mesa, California and after my First Profession in 1962 I was asked to join this branch. Here I was, a young woman of 22 from an Irish rural background travelling to California, USA. I felt lonely saying goodbye to family and friends and the familiar life and culture of my native country. A year later the President, John F. Kennedy, made a historic visit to his ancestral home!
In my new community in Costa Mesa there were nine Sisters. At that time, we were wearing the black pleated serge habits. We had no air conditioning in either the convent or the school, so the heat was oppressive.
Adapting to a different culture was challenging! The pupils had to become accustomed to the Irish brogue, and I had to adapt to their accents and turn of phrase. One day I used a phrase familiar to me: “Don’t bother your head!” and a child raised his hand to ask what I meant!
I had 55 pupils in my first class group. Our school was co-ed. The children’s parents paid a tuition fee of $8 a month, and this was our only funding. For many years our staff consisted of the seven of us Sisters of Mercy, with one lay teacher.
I vividly remember the Cuban Missile crisis of October 1962, as it was an anxious time for all of us in school. In the following decade, due to the Vietnam war, we had an influx of Vietnamese people to California. Their children attended our schools and were wonderful pupils. It was also the era of the Vatican Council, and we looked forward with enthusiasm to renewal in the Catholic Church. “Aggiornamento” was the buzzword of those years!
In my early years in the US I studied for a degree and got my credentials for a teaching career. Later I was happy to avail of the many courses in Theology and Catechesis which became available in Los Angeles. A year’s study 1971 – 1972 in Mount Oliver Catechetical Institution, Dundalk brought me back to Ireland. This experience helped me in my involvement with CCD Sunday classes for pupils in the local public schools.
I said goodbye to Costa Mesa with all its happy memories in 1988 and relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where I taught in school for 12 years. In 2001 I became Director of Religious Education in the parish and remained in that position till 2017, when I returned to Ireland. My sister Peggy, also a Sister of Mercy, missioned to the US for many years, is living in Ireland now, too. Having come back to my roots I am now enjoying retirement, in the company of the Sisters and my essential piece of technology – my iPad!
Ambrose Cruise
Formerly US Region, now Northern Province
