Rita Wynne ......................................................................................................................................................................................

My name is Rita Wynne. I am a third generation Dubliner, the second eldest of eight. In 1979, I joined the Sisters of Charity in Mount Saint Anne’s, Milltown and what follows is a short summary of my vocation story.

It is very difficult to put the mystery of “God’s workings” into words. God communicates in many ways, through people, events, scripture, books, films…even when we are not aware of it at the time.

I grew up in a home where faith was strong and vibrant. As children, we all learned the value and importance of sharing, honesty, self-worth, hard work, respect and prayer from the example our parents gave us. So, even though I didn’t know at the time, the first seeds of my vocation were sown in those early years at home.

Growing up, I was like any of my friends, enjoying parties, discos, cinema, reading, walking and going on holidays. The year that I was doing my Leaving Certificate, my friends asked me to go on holidays to Greece to get my mind off the idea of Religious Life. Off we went and all had a great time but my heart still told me to keep searching. I had a great fondness for books, especially biographies, autobiographies – tales of heroism. Again, God used my love of books to continue planting seeds.

Caritas Christi Urget Nos – which means The Love of God impels us.

What did I do next?

I am now 26 years a Sister with the Sisters of Charity and my journey, trying to have God the centre of my life, continues.

I was born in 19th October, 1940, the fourth child of nine to Michael and Elizabeth Curry, both Catholics, in Kilpatrick, Clogh, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. My childhood was set in a rural setting which gave me a love of nature and the simple things of life. This love of the countryside has remained with me throughout my life and has influenced my living both spiritually and physically.

My education was of the time in the local primary school, but at the age of ten, my parents were asked to transfer us to a more rural school which had remained closed for years and was now being re-opened to accommodate children living more remotely than ourselves. We were now the pioneers and helped these children as they set out on their life experiences.

For me, it was a new opening and I found myself in a position of more challenge as it was a mixed school which was unusual in those days. The teacher had a profound influence on me and from her I learned the value of study in a serious way. I was challenged to “beat the boys” intellectually and a sense of competition became part of my experience. I would consider this the first challenge I experienced.

From there, I went to the Presentation Convent Secondary School in Castlecomer, where I received my second level education. I had thought of joining Religious Life but wanted to begin a nursing career. I had decided to do nursing which was fortunate as my parents would not have been in a position to finance any third level education.

Following my Leaving Certificate, I went as an auxiliary nurse to St Mary’s Hospital, Baldoyle, while I was waiting to secure a place in a teaching nursing hospital. It was here that I met my first Sister of Charity – Sr Margaret Bernadette – who was my mentor during my time there. The nursing auxiliary experience opened me to a great variety of physical disabilities in children. This was a great shock to me and influenced me in my decision to continue my nursing career and to become a religious sister.

I then commenced my paediatric Nurse training in Temple St Children’s Hospital. It was here that I came into contact with a group of the Sisters of Charity, from whom I learned to respect all who came to the hospital for care and healing I later joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity where I continued my career as a nurse alongside the living of my religious life.

As a sister, I have been involved in the nursing profession which has given me many experiences to celebrate. It has not been without its ups and downs and I will develop this briefly.

A four year experience in Zambia in my mid twenties was one of the most liberating experiences of my life. Mission work was appreciated and I was able to use my expertise to bring health care to the most needy. It also gave me a great social life experience where the sisters lived and worked in close contact with the people. One of my sincere friends dates from that time and the bond that exists among those of us who were there at that time, still links us together.

My decision to return to Ireland was a personal one at the time and I furthered my nursing career.

My second mission experience was in Nigeria in later life and this was one of the most difficult experiences and left me quite drained spiritually and physically. Again, this was a four year stint and I completed my contract.

Returning to Ireland this time was a blessing, as my mother was very ill and I was able to be with her and share great love and caring together with family bonding until her death seven months later. During this time, I was then appointed as principal tutor in St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. This proved a wonderful challenging experience and I thank God for the great team of colleagues who supported me up until the profession was incorporated into University.

This move challenged me to make further choices and I decided to study Theology and Clinical Pastoral Education, which led me into the field of Pastoral Care from which I retired on 31st December 2005. I am now in a position to take a sabbatical which will, please God, reground me for whatever life has left to me.

My life as a sister has been both fulfilling and challenging and I thank God for all that I have experienced. It has not been without its spiritual pain which is part of all life experiences. I feel I have been able to give life to many people through my ministry and presence, always relying on a greater Power working within me and within the communities in which I shared and lived.