Then and Now

Sister Maureen Kelly

I was born in Boston to Irish immigrant parents, the oldest of four children—three girls and one boy. From an early age, we were deeply rooted in our Catholic faith, a profound love for Mary and strong, positive values. Our childhood was filled with studying and playing alongside fellow students and neighborhood friends, many of whom also came from immigrant families—Irish, Greek, Italian, French and Canadian. With my father, I attended the Wednesday Novenas of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at the Basilica, led by the Redemptorists, where I was first introduced to St. Alphonsus Maria of Liguori. I received my education from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. I admired these intelligent, professional and dedicated women—though, at times, I thought they might be from another planet!

I became an elementary school teacher in an inner-city area of Boston, where about a quarter of my students were of Hispanic heritage, primarily from the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Through the Archdiocesan Hispanic Center, I learned about an intensive Spanish summer course in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Taking a sabbatical from the Boston Public Schools, I traveled to Puerto Rico to study first at the university in San Juan and then with the IHM Sisters during the summer course.

Upon returning to Boston, I continued teaching in the bilingual program while maintaining contact with the IHM Sisters in Puerto Rico. I admired their dedication and the deep connection they had with the people they served. Eventually, I felt called to return to Puerto Rico, where I had worked alongside the IHM Sisters for three years before requesting to join their community. I was accepted by Margaret Brennan, who also approved my formation in Puerto Rico. After my first profession, I spent 15 years primarily engaged in pastoral work in Ceiba and Vieques.

Julie Slowik requested the presence of another IHM Sister in Juarez, Mexico, to accompany a young woman, Carmen Armenta Lara, who was discerning her entrance into our community. I arrived in 1990 and Carmen’s formation occurred across Mexico, Puerto Rico and Michigan. Several years later, María Antonia Aranda also requested to enter the congregation. I had the privilege of accompanying her on her formation journey. During this time, we moved to the Santa Elena Chapel, where I ministered for 26 years as part of my 34 years of service in Mexico.

Since 2018, with the large caravans of migrants from Central and South America, we have been accompanying our migrant brothers and sisters on their journey to a better life. We help them with health issues, education, documents and work possibilities. For years, our presence has been active through the Civil Association, “Planting Today and Harvesting Tomorrow, A.C.,” and the intercongregational community, comprising five congregations of women religious.

My life has come full circle—from my childhood in an Irish immigrant family to sharing the IHM charism with our migrant families in Juarez. ¡Gracias a Dios for my 50 years as an IHM Sister!