The story of Irish missionaries is one that is told often, but it is only when you meet with Sr Louis Marie O’Connor and Fr Maurice Hogan and listen to their stories that you really understand the tireless and selfless work they do.

Their careers span great lengths, both in the sense of time and distance and they remain very active today in their respective posts: a true testament to human nature and the willingness to help.

Born on a farm in Kanturk, Co Cork, in 1931, Louis Marie credits her upbringing for shaping her outlook on life. “I was brought up with seven boys in the house, so I became very spirited!” she laughs.

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The funny tales of tomfoolery and gallivanting would certainly suggest it was a youth with no regrets, and at the tender age of 17 she made the decision to enter religious life. Almost seven decades later, she is as active as ever.

“I am a firm believer in enjoying life, being excited by life,” she says. “I enjoy every minute of it. I am learning every day.” Working in some of the world’s most impoverished areas, it is an attitude that Marie Louis had to adopt.

from kanturk to Sierra Leone

“I went to Sierra Leone in 1956. I spent 40 years there. It was a very poor area, very similar in fact to Ireland in the 1950s. We were based in Freetown and ran clinics, but we mostly dealt with education.

“At the time there were only white teachers there and no African nuns on the staff. Our aim was to empower the African nuns to do the jobs we were doing. That way they could become self sufficient, so to speak.”

Indeed, today all but two of the nuns working at these centres are African sisters, a true testament to the work carried out by Sr Louis Marie and her fellow missionaries.

travel habits

In recent years, Louis Marie’s work has been focused primarily in Haiti, including an orphanage construction project.

The profound impact the earthquake had on the country in 2010 was seen firsthand by the sister.

“I travelled there in January and May of 2010. It was devastating. The streets were virtually empty. Everything was destroyed. There were 250,000 people under blocks that were all around you.

“I have a vivid image of a man with sugar cane, trying to sell it to whoever would buy it just so he could make some money. You felt helpless, like you didn’t belong,” she recalls.

Her work there in the following years, along with the other missionaries, has been commendable. The orphanage that was destroyed has been rebuilt, while numerous other projects to help the local people are underway and in progress. It is tireless work, but when human will is strong it is manageable.

rolling stones

Equally fascinating is Maurice Hogan’s story. When talking to him, the expression “a rolling stone gathers no moss” springs to mind. The Kerry native was ordained in 1965 and since then has experienced a career that has taken him worldwide.

“I worked in a parish in Japan a year after I was ordained, as well as studying theology in Sophia University there. I suppose the toughest thing was learning the language!” he jokes.

After a spell of five years in the Land of the Rising Sun, he travelled to Rome for three years to study scripture, before a further four years in Japan. By then, the call to return home was strong.

“I came back to the parish of Navan in 1978. By 1980, I was encouraged to lecture in St Patrick’s Maynooth College, where I became a professor of sacred scripture. I spent a wonderful 25 years there, until I retired in 2005,” he says.

In typical Maurice fashion, though, the rest didn’t last long. When an email arrived soon after offering him a parish in Hong Kong, the former retiree set sail again.

Today, he is the national director of World Missionaries Ireland. At 76, he is as active as he was 20 years ago and quite possibly the most impressive legacy of his worldwide travels would be the 11 languages he is fluent in.

a message of hope

Both Louis Marie and Maurice share similar sentiments on life, especially when it comes to their faith and willingness to help. “Hope is the word that encapsulates us the most.” Louis Marie believes. “Hope springs eternal, and that’s the message we want to send.”

It is also evident in the pride that Maurice has in their organisation.

“We operate in 80 countries. We have personnel numbering 1,300 and the money we raise ensures poorer areas benefit. Our job is to keep people informed, to pray and contribute funds. We are very fortunate to have a great team behind us”.

And with Louis Marie and Maurice showing no sign of slowing down, one must acknowledge the strength and endurance they have shown, as well as the hundreds of others in their positions, to carry on doing good throughout the world. CL

>> World Missions Ireland

World Missions Ireland (WMI) is the official mission charity of the Catholic Church in Ireland. In all, there are approximately 1,500 Irish born missionaries serving in up to 80 countries worldwide.

WMI helps to support the training of priests and sisters, catechists, the building of churches, schools and orphanages. They help support healthcare programmes and provide aid through their church structure in times of emergency caused by war and natural disaster. Visit www.wmi.ie