HOPE AND TRUST

1970s, the nun notes that ‘religion is largely gone from homes.’

“We grew up when the Rosary was said in houses every night. Families went to Sunday Mass together. Prayer was part of life, you know? I often remember at home, if someone came in while the Rosary was on, they knelt inside the door and joined in in the Rosary until it was over. And that was the culture, it was taken for granted.”

Sr Annunciata reflects on how life has changed to a more complicated, busier world, where more options in some ways, is not a positive thing

“Isn’t everyone complaining about the busyness of life? We’re all caught up in it. I’ve no regrets, in the sense that I am so grateful to have joined the Presentation Sisters, to be a daughter of Nano Nagle, and to belong to a group of women who I am very proud of. Like anyone else, I’d have my regrets and say, could I have done more or better in various situations, but I prefer to leave that to the Lord.

“Hope and trust are two virtues that are very important in today’s world. And I would hope that I could still continue to give hope to people, and there are so many people at the moment who feel pretty hopeless.”

“Financial worries, health worries, I could understand how people could lose hope. But I think our role as Consecrated people is to remind people that the Lord is in charge, no matter what happens, it’s His world. And no matter what happens, he is in charge.”

Sr Annunciata is quite firm that Nano Nagle had a part to play in her becoming a Sister: “I’m sure she’s still influencing people, but do we have time to listen? In today’s world?”