El Bulletin es nuestra revista anual que desde 1970 refleja la vida, los valores y los proyectos de nuestra comunidad. Esta publicación es una forma más de acompañar el trabajo que realizamos en nuestros centros.
Entrevista a Sister Pat
(Patricia Carney o Sister Frances)
Este año, OGA celebra su 90º aniversario, y en 2026, Michael Ham cumplirá 100. ¡Dos hitos increíbles para nuestra comunidad! En ese marco, entrevistamos a Sister Patricia, un emblema del colegio, y una profesora y directora entrañable para muchos de nosotros. Su historia, sus primeros años en Argentina, los mayores desafíos y momentos de mayor orgullo, recuerdos de su etapa por el colegio y qué mensaje le dejaría a la comunidad del Michael.
Could you please tell us something about yourself, your personal story, your family, your beginnings? My mother used to say when, I was growing up, if I I was going to be a tomboy, I would be "Pat" and if I was a very refined ladylike I would be "Patrizia", and that was the way she would like it to be pronounced and although normally in English it's Patrisha, she would like it to be "Patrizia” so in the end, you called me, what my mother would have liked me to be called. But I'm Pat, to everybody else. I'm the eldest of seven children. We're a very close family. We always know that the family is there. And to me that, and having stayed in the same area, is what gave me a very sta- ble and a very firm foundation, that I was then able to build my life on. I am eternally grateful to my parents for that, and my siblings!
Was the Passionist congregation present in your area? How did you get to know about them? How old were you when you made the decision to be- come a nun?
My secondary school was a Passionist school. The Sisters were teaching in Mount Saint Joseph as they teach in Michael Ham. I felt my vocation when I was 17 years old, I was still in school. I wasn't absolutely sure but I just sensed it was something I needed to do. But I was also scared. We used to go to the chapel, and I would say "Listen Lord I don't know whether this is right or not, and if it's not right well just please make something happen so I can't do it." And nothing hap- pened, so I decided at least I would try it.
My mother was the first person I told. And she said to me: "You're too young, you haven't lived, you don't know what you're giving up. But it's your life and if that's what you want to do, you go with my blessing." My father was absolutely delighted! He loved the idea and eventually somewhere he found a poem “I'm the daddy of a nun” and he was...
At 17 you made the decision, and then you came to Argentina at the age of 28, quite young.
I didn't know anything about Argentina at all, but I got a three-week holiday on the boat. We came by boat, on the Royal Mail ship. Coming to Argentina was my first time outside of England. And actually, there was a past pupil on that boat, Agustina Pitt.
You spent 32 years here at Michael Ham, right? What were your biggest challenges, your achieve- ments or your proudest moments; the joys and sor- rows that marked your time here at Michael Ham? Even though I already had an English degree, I had to get an Argentinian one if I wanted to teach in the local