Our History
Mother Kevin, formerly Teresa Kearney, was born on 28th April, 1875 in Knockenrahan, Arklow, Co Wicklow. She first left for Uganda on 2nd December 1902 and arrived on January 15th 1903 as a Franciscan Sister of St Mary’s Abbey, Mill Hill, London. In 1952 she founded the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa.
Her father died in an accident three months before she was born. Her mother remarried and had three more children. They were a happy united family, but when Teresa was ten years old tragedy struck again – her mother died.
Now her grandmother, Granny Grennell in Curranstown, County Wicklow, brought the young Teresa to her home. This beloved Granny opened her heart to Teresa giving her love, security, a deep faith and a share of her own wisdom.
At fourteen years of age, Teresa became an Assistant Teacher with the Sisters of Mercy, Rathdrum and this continued for some years. But just before she was seventeen her grandmother died suddenly – so many bereavements at such a young age. Perhaps all these happenings were the source, of Mother Kevin’s strength of character and practical wisdom.
When Sister Paul, the first leader of the group returned to the United States in 1910, Sister Kevin became the new Leader. Her zeal and energy over the next fifty years brought hope to so many people in Uganda.
New convents were opened; primary schools, clinics and women’s development groups were dotted all over Uganda, Busoga, and Teso districts.
The clinic that began under a mango tree at Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda in 1903 became a hospital, then a training School for Uganda Registered Nurses. Secondary Schools, Teacher Training College and Homecraft Centres followed.
But among Mother Kevin’s special projects were the two centres, one at Buluba, one at Nyenga, to care for Leprosy patients – a truly Franciscan Ministry.
In 1923, Mother Kevin founded the Little Sisters of St Francis. They now number over 550 Sisters and are working in three countries, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
The need for more Sisters for Africa was a priority for Mother Kevin. She got permission from Mill Hill Abbey to start a “Uganda Novitiate”, in Holme Hall, Yorkshire. This was opened on 2nd February 1928.
Many young women from England, Scotland and Ireland flocked to Holme Hall, to join the new missionary endeavor in East Africa. However, Mill Hill Abbey also needed Sisters for their Schools in England and the American mission.
A year later Teresa went to teach in a school in Essex, searching for what God was asking of her. On the advice of her Spiritual Director, she applied to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary’s Abbey, Mill Hill London, as she felt called to their charism of serving the African American community.
On 21st April 1989 she made her Perpetual Vows, as Sister Mary Kevin of the Sacred Passion. Her motto was “For Thee, Lord”, a sentiment that inspired her for the rest of her life.
In 1902 a Mill Hill Father, Bishop Henry Hanlon, approached Franciscan Sisters Mill Hill, requesting Sisters for Uganda. Having seen the crying needs of women and children there and the high infant mortality rate, the Bishop was convinced that it was necessary to have Sisters engaged in health care and education ministries. He was well aware that the impact of preaching the Gospel was greatly lessened if people were in need of healing, education and development skills.
Sister Kevin was one of the Sisters chosen for this new venture. And so – a new challenge for Young Sr. Kevin! With five Sister companions she left for Uganda on December 2nd 1902.
