An Ordinary Woman
an interview with Helen Hickey, CSJA
W
hen I thought
about this article, I
wondered, “Why me?
I’m just an ordinary person!”
But Sisters of St. Joseph and
Associates often say, “We are
ordinary people from all walks
of life.”
I grew up in South Boston
in a family of four children.
We attended St. Peter’s, which
was staffed by the Sisters of Jesus
Crucified. We all have very happy memories with the sisters.
In elementary school, I seemed to have it in my nature to
be helpful. I often went to Labouré Center after school to
help prepare classrooms for the next day. During that time,
I joined a group of middle school girls, called the “St. Joseph
Club”. We met a couple of times a month and talked about
ways of serving people. Even back then I desired to make a
difference in our world.
I attended Cardinal Cushing High School and worked after
school. As a result, I was not involved in a lot of activities.
I connected with the Sisters of Notre Dame from the very
beginning. There was a Sister Julie whom I admired. She had
a way of getting all of her students prepared for the future
through very informal conversations. She was the inspiration
for me naming my first daughter Julie.
After high school, I began working and eventually met my
husband, Paul. The first time we met was when he came to
my house to collect money for a retreat I was attending at
Miramar in Duxbury. My mother liked that! She knew he
was “a good Catholic boy”! We married in 1971 and spent
the next 20 years raising our three children: Julie, Katie,
and Christopher, as well as caring for my mother-in-law and
my parents. We now have eight amazing, energetic, loving
grandchildren.
I may not have had a paying job during those years, but I
do believe I was making a difference in our changing world.
At St. Anne Parish, Readville, I joined a group of mothers who
coordinated the annual bazaar. But we wanted to do more.
We started volunteering at Pine Street
Inn. My children often accompanied
me. Eventually I worked with Judy
Swett, CSJA, a Cushing classmate, to
organize three teams who would go to
Pine Street. For 25 years, we mobilized
households all over Hyde Park and
Readville to prepare the meal and take
turns serving. It was fun, challenging and
rewarding all at the same time.
Pictured above Helen, Paul and their children Chris, Julie, and Katie. Pictured below: Helen and Paul with six of their grandchildren.
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Soundings 37 #2
I’m proud that my kids got involved too. Sometimes they
came to serve. As they grew up and started families, my
children and Judy’s children baked for our Pine Street team.
They would remark with pride, “Mom’s doing something for
Pine Street.” When other team members could no longer
continue, my kids stepped in and said, “Mom, we’ll do even
more!” I didn’t have to force them to help. That touched
my heart. One Sunday, my granddaughter, Brennah, came to
Pine Street with us. For me, it was a God-moment of things
coming full circle.
One evening Judy was going to a meeting and asked me
to join her. It was in Brighton and Rosemary Brennan, CSJ,
was serving a spaghetti dinner. I soon discovered we were
there to learn about the CSJ Associate Program. When one
orientation meeting was canceled, Judy and I got together
on our own to go through the materials. I knew I was being
drawn to the CSJ spirituality. I enjoyed being with people
who seemed to be on my wavelength. My husband Paul and I
continue to work full-time and help with our grandchildren.
In the midst of the activity this brings, Associate Gatherings
offer this ordinary woman inner peace and a place where I
can be myself. †
Pictured above: Helen, Paul, and grandaughter Brennah at Pine Street
Inn. Helen with sisters and associates at an associate gathering.
www.csjboston.org
Year of Consecrated Life
The Society of Jesus:
Finding God in All Things
The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic
order of priests and brothers founded in 1534 by St.
Ignatius Loyola.
With close to 17,000 priests and brothers worldwide,
the Jesuits are the largest male religious order in the
Catholic Church, drawing on the rich tradition of Ignatian
spirituality and reflection. Jesuits seek to "find God in all
things," dedicating themselves to the “greater glory of
God" and the good of all humanity.
In collaboration with others who share their Ignatian
values, including laypersons, Jesuits care for the whole
person: body, mind, and soul. Through retreat ministries,
parishes, international works, and other settings, Jesuits
offer resources to all who want to discern God’s presence
in their lives. In their many educational ministries,
Jesuits seek to nurture "men and women for others."
At the same time, the Society of Jesus also aims to
form “contemplatives in action,” people who bring this
spirituality into the everyday world. This includes work on
behalf of global justice, peace, and dialogue.
During this Year of Consecrated Life, the Jesuit Vocation
Office has shared weekly reflections written by Jesuits
from different apostolates, generations and regions.
Additionally, a celebration of all of the Jesuits in the USA
Northeast Province featured a keynote speech and lecture
panel devoted to consecrated life, accompanying vocation
events and days of prayer at Jesuit communities and
apostolates. These events have helped Jesuits – and those
interested in joining the Society – understand more deeply
and reflect on their vocations. †
To learn more about the work of Jesuits in our region,
visit www.JesuitsEast.org.
Father John Wronski, SJ, leading morning assembly at Nativity
Preparatory School in Boston.
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