I grew up on a farm about ten miles west of Mullingar in Co Westmeath, the fourth of five children, four girls and one boy. We did mixed farming and each of us did whatever was needed to be done, in the fields, in the yard or in our home. I had a very happy childhood and learned from an early age the need to look out for others. One of my sisters had an intellectual disability and my parents always ensured that she was never left out of any of our activities. Music and sing songs were very much a part of my life growing up. My father played the fiddle and never refused to play for us as we practised Irish step dancing or learning how to waltz. My parents weren’t overly religious but the Rosary was recited each night and we were sprinkled with Holy Water as we left for school in the morning. I believe the seeds of my vocation were sown within my home where I witnessed my mother feeding traveller families who called looking for help. They never left empty handed but laden with milk, butter, eggs and vegetables produced on the farm.

I began my formal education in the local Primary School. For my Secondary Education I went as a boarder to Mercy Convent, Moate. These were happy years where I got involved in stage musicals, choir and church music festivals. Subjects were taught through Irish and I loved our native language. All our teachers were Mercy Sisters and they gave us a great example of hard work mixed with lots of play. I was happy in school although I did have a few skirmishes with the ‘rules’.

I can’t say that on any particular day I had a big illumination about my vocation. Being a nun was something I always wanted and especially after hearing stories from cousins who came on holidays from Nigeria. Something about their work attracted me and in my heart I was saying ‘I’d love to do something like that’. So, on September 8th, 1963 I entered with the Sisters in Trim, Co Meath. Novitiate days were spent in learning the Mercy way of life, in household chores and in various training. I cannot say it was all plain sailing because having come from a farm where we ran free, it was difficult for me to understand the petty ‘permissions’ we had to seek. But on the whole life was good and we had a friendly family spirit.

Annie Jo Heduan rsm

After studying in UCD and Maynooth I was assigned to teach in St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Athboy, Co Meath. In 1976 I assumed the role of Leadership in the community. Then came the invitation to teach in a Government school in Monze, Zambia. After a lot of talk and tears I set out in September 1979 with three other Sisters from the Diocese of Meath. I spent the next twelve years teaching English, Maths and Religious Education in an all-boys non-denominational boarding school. There were many new things I experienced there but the quality of the facilities shocked me most. Many had no mattresses, food was of a very poor quality, classrooms had no blackboards, furniture was scarce and books were checked out at the start of a lesson and checked in at the end. But despite this, their eagerness to learn was second to none. After school I worked with the Catholic boys in their groups, from St. Vincent de Paul Society to Young Christian Students (YCS) to preparing a classroom for Sunday service. I found these boys to be inspirational. In the mid-eighties it became evident that the HIV/AIDS was taking a grip on the country. Many staff and pupils at the school became ill and some of them died. It was heart-breaking for me to sit at the bedside of some of my young boys who looked like skeletons and who wondered what was happening to them.

In 1991 as part of my Silver Jubilee celebration I spent a year in Milltown Institute in Dublin and followed it up with a year studying Pastoral Theology. I was invited to do parish work when I returned to Monze and so began a new journey with the poorest of the poor. I learned a little of the local Citonga language so with my pigeon Tonga and their pigeon English we managed. Each area in the parish had a Small Christian Community with its own church council. They shared what little they had and gave of their best to help the sick and suffering. Each community took it in turn to clean and prepare the church for Sunday and this included bringing food for the priests for the week ahead. I got my share of that too. My main area of responsibility was Adult Catechumenate which was delivered in Citonga by five women whom I trained in the RCIA programme. On Holy Saturday night under the full moon, there was a joyous celebration of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist for those who had completed the two year programme.  There were many groups in the parish which fostered the faith of the communities and I supported some of these. Zambian people taught me many things about life, as I shared their sod but the greatest gift they left with me is their total trust in God. Their mantra was always ‘God will provide’

In 1999 during a thirty day retreat in St. Beuno’s I discerned about my future in Zambia. I returned home in 2002, trained in CPE and was asked to be Chaplain in St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in Warrenpoint. The seven years I spent there were very rewarding as I spent time with residents listening to their stories, preparing church services, being at the bedside of the dying, comforting families and supporting staff. When I retired from there I was invited to Community Leadership. This was challenging at times but a very rewarding apostolate. At this time, I am involved in a small way in teaching English to Syrian Refugees.

I have had a wonderful life thanks to the opportunities offered to me as a Sister of Mercy. They have helped me to become the person whom God has called me to be. I have been sustained by my relationship with God, good friends, my family and by lots of fun times.

These words of Daniel Berrigan SJ sum up my life at this time.

“These many beautiful days cannot be lived again
But they are compounded in my own flesh and spirit
And I take them in full measure
Towards whatever lies ahead.”

Annie Jo Heduan rsm
Northern Province