A Sister Who Is Also a Mother

Sister Joan Rekicki is an outreach worker at McAuley House, a house of hospitality in Providence’s South Side. Sister Joan has been involved in McAuley House since its inception in 1975, first as a volunteer and then as an outreach worker. For this month’s Rainbow Award we present an acrostic poem by Marilyn Love, who nominated Sister Joan. Love calls Sister Joan her “Mother.”

A mother wears many hats, just to name a few
It’s closer to a hundred hats, make you raise your hand
And saw whew

Mother works in God’s kitchen, washing greens and peas, Mother/Sister works in God’s fields, singing Lord if you please.
O stands for the other cheek, she turns to the world, and goes on none for the worst for wear or tear
Tell tail tired legs that never stop, run when one of her children get hurt at play
Have you ever seen the look in her eyes after she’s done something for some one
Everlasting warmth just knowing she’s in your life
Ready to touch your hurt and make it go away

Soul to soul you feel she knows all truth, judges not
Important why she touches someone’s life everyday
Stone ready to meet this world, head on everyday
T is for tenderness of sisterly love
Eager to give and one to receive, gives out of both hands and heart
Ready to start all over again

Joan of Arc for Jesus
O what a feeling after being in her company
All time high I get just to know someone else who loves Jesus
Now, today, and tomorrow

Testimonial: “Sister Joan is extraordinary. She has a very strong affinity and passion for working with people who are poor. It is her calling. She lives it fully everyday. She is constantly on the go, visiting people at the hospital, etc. She does our guests’ laundry at night; she gives them showers. She is amazing. She is funny, too! It helps her to do this work. A lot of people would be burnt out. When things are very difficult she can see the humor in things; it is healing humor.”
– Rev. Mary Margaret Earl, administrator, McAuley House

Sister Joan asked that Street Sights include this message:
“This article represents the energies and spirit of the many people who work endlessly and lovingly on behalf of all of our sisters and brothers in need”