Oh sister where art thou?
A social worker remembers the wonderful talents of Sister Bridget and her powers of persuasion in the local community.
"Sister Bridget. No Julie Andrews bringing smiles to the faces of Austrian rich kids and not everyone's cup of tea but, I really loved her.
She died recently, in her 90s. She and I worked in the same, small, dockyard town, whose depressed streets she padded, endlessly, doing good works or as she put it, God's work. I did my social work by the book. Hers was from the heart, and, I suspect, was the more effective.
Her very special talent was in getting reluctant or unthinking others to join her in her work. I wasn't always pleased to hear that Sister Bridget was waiting to see me. But, sigh as I might, I could never stop myself from agreeing to drive, to do, to give, to arrange countless things, inroads into work or family time. God's work by proxy!
Her convent now is a business training establishment, the garden its carpark but, nice touch, the statue of the Madonna remained to watch over the cars. In time, it faded, to be replaced by some piece of garden sculpture. Still, it's the thought that counts.
Churches, chapels, convents fall into disuse. Others rise again. But gone is Sister Bridget's gently insistent hand on my elbow, steering me towards the chapel to, "say hello to the Lord before you go."
Had I shared her simple faith I might, indeed, have said, "Hello Lord" and, who knows, He might have replied, "Hello my child.""
Colin Gerlach
