CARE CENTRE
MISSIONVALE
the
Sister Ethel Normoyle
"The poor, only the best is good enough for them."
Sr Ethel Normoyle
From the moment I met Sister Ethel, I could instantly feel her warm-heartedness. Her love and kindness is openly felt by all those who work alongside her at the Centre as well as those who visit the Centre.
Sister Ethel is the founder and director of the Missionvale Care Centre. As a member of the Little Company of Mary in Ireland, she was requested to come to South Africa to serve the needs of the poor in 1972. After working in Eersterust (Mamelodi) for a number of years, she came to Missionvale in 1988. Since then she has spread love, support and compassion within this community and is recognised as the personification of goodness across Port Elizabeth.
Having left Ireland 42 years ago, Sister Ethel mentioned that she is no stranger to home-sickness. She spoke fondly of her family and stated that they have helped her continue her work here. Since 1988 the centre has developed into a well-structured and well-facilitated organisation that takes a holistic approach in serving the needs of the people in Missionvale.
“The whole charisma of the place is to have the love in your heart and to find Christ in everybody. To love, respect and recognise the dignity of everybody. The strange thing is that when people are rich and well off, we hastily have a smile for them. But often the poor are deprived of smiles, love, hugs and kisses and care. And they are the ones who need to be cultivated. They have the ability and capability to do it, but they don’t get the opportunity. ” she said.
Sister Ethel has received numerous awards, locally and internationally: Citizen of the Year in Port Elizabeth in 1990, an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2001 and the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2004, to name just a few. Yet she makes it known that it is having the will to respond to God’s call that is the true reward.
Sister Ethel Normoyle
Sister Ethel speaks about the early years of her time in South Africa and shares how she has so openly and loving spread the compassion of Christ across this community.