Religious Life, in Our Own Words
Eight Sisters share insights from 390 years of faithful service
On February 10, the Diocese of Raleigh will recognize eight Sisters,
members of eight different religious orders, who represent, cumulatively,
nearly four centuries of vowed life. In this, their year of jubilee, they
talked about their communities, their families, and the joys they have
discovered in religious life.
Sr. Mary Peter Meckel, S.P. - 60 Years
My order, the Congregation of Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, Mass.,
was founded by Mother Mary of Providence Horan, and based on the spirituality
of St. Vincent de Paul. We strive to reveal in the Church the mystery of
God's providence, bringing hope to those in need through ministries of
healing, attending particularly to the cries of the poor and oppressed. We
began working with orphans in Holyoke, Mass., then opened soup kitchens and
other services for the poor in Massachusetts.
In North Carolina I've tutored elementary school children,
particularly Hispanic children, in Red Springs. All these ministries have been
important and life-giving for me. My experiences in Massachusetts helped me
with the programs in Red Springs.
As I look back over 60 years, I realize that my trust in Providence and
the support of my community have kept me going. Moving to North Carolina has
enriched my life, provided new experiences and opportunities to meet and live
with people of other cultures, backgrounds and beliefs.
Sr. Lois MacGillivray, S.N.J.M. - 50 Years
I belong to the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. The Order
was founded by Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, whose motto was "The full
development of the human person." I was attracted to this community by the
wonderful education I was received from its Sisters in high school. I was also
struck by their vibrancy and good humor.
Over the course of 50 years I have ministered in elementary education,
as a college president and as a social science researcher. The years as a
college president were the most challenging: It is a seven-day-a-week
assignment with multiple constituencies. That role taught me a great deal.
Prayer and a sense of God's guiding hand have kept me grounded in
religious life. I am grateful for the support of the other Sisters in learning
about life and grace, and grateful to have a life that makes space for prayer
and constructive ministries, as well as leading to simplicity and an awareness
of others.
Sr. Shirley Ann Simpson, C.S.C. - 50 Years
I rejoice to celebrate 50 years of vowed life and ministry and 25 years
in the Diocese of Raleigh - at Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Raphael's in
Raleigh, St. Stephen's in Sanford, St. Mary Catholic School and Holy
Family Parish in Hillsborough.
When I was in sixth grade, Sister Marie Pierre, I.H.M., who had known us
for several years, told me that she thought one of the Simpson girls would be a
Sister. The seed was planted. Holy Cross Sisters were my high school teachers;
I liked them and what I learned about their community appealed to me.
I started my ministry as a second grade teacher. Since then I have
prepared hundreds of children for First Communion as teacher and as parish DRE.
The ministry I love most is preparing older children for Eucharist. Their
parents are vulnerable because "We're late doing this." I
delight in assuring them that Our God loves us all and is not concerned about
the timing but waits to welcome them.
Only by the assurance of God's constant care and action in my life,
the support of my community, family and friends, and the inspiration of the
people I have met in ministry have I gotten to this jubilee.
Sr. Mary Therese Brown, S.N.D. - 50 Years
I came to my community, the Sisters of Notre Dame, by the example of the
Sisters I had as teachers from elementary school through college. I was struck
by their centeredness on Jesus, community living, their love of one another,
their love of Mary and the thoroughness of their teaching and service to
others.
From my initial call and response to religious life, my life has been
enriched by the people I have met, worked with and called friends. I enjoyed
teaching in many situations: inner city, suburbs, boarding school (13 years at
Notre Dame Academy in Middleburg, VA), all girls and coed. And I found Pastoral
Ministry a way to continue catechesis with adults. My present ministry at St.
Andrew the Apostle in Apex has been most rewarding, especially in accompanying
new Catholics through the RCIA process.
The things that have sustained me in religious life include the example
of the Sisters who taught me and later became friends and mentors; the
opportunities to grow spiritually as well as professionally; the chance to
share knowledge and the love of learning and faith with hundred of students;
and the opportunity to share faith journeys with those who have found a home in
the Catholic faith.
Sr. Theresine Gildea, C.D.P. - 50 Years
My community, the Congregation of Divine Providence, was founded in
Germany. Our charism is Trust in and openness to the Providence of God, and
making God's Providence more visible in our world.
Religious life was not part of my future planning; marriage was. By
accident, though, I met a Sister from the community who spoke about their
missionary work. I was always attracted to this type of serving, and after many
struggles with "I don't think so, God," I entered religious
life.
Every assignment I have answered holds a special place in my heart. Ten
years in Puerto Rico fulfilled my desire to work in the missions. The faith of
the poor was a special gift to me. My work in pastoral ministry for 20 years in
Pittsburgh enabled me to use my counseling abilities, and served as a bridge
from mission work to family counseling, hospital visits, food for the needy and
many other blessings. It is so easy to miss the mission work in our own
country. Working with the Spanish-speaking for the last ten years in North
Carolina has been a blessing.
I have been a counselor for over 30 years, and I feel this is my gift. I
love people, and my heart is always where I am working at the present time. Our
founding Mother taught us that people are God's special gift to us, and
showing God's providence to them, with compassion, justice, love and joy,
is my goal.
Sr. Teresa Marry, S.S.L. - 50 Years
My religious community, the Sisters of St. Louis, was founded in France
in 1797. I entered the community in Monaghan, Ireland. After my profession of
vows, and in the exuberance of my youth, I volunteered for our missions in
Africa. But God had another plan for me: I was assigned to California! I have
spent most of my life in the ministry of Catholic school education.
In 1992 Bishop Joseph Gossman welcomed the Sisters of St. Louis to the
Diocese of Raleigh. I responded to my community's invitation to ministry
in Ahoskie, NC. Today, I teach GED and ESL classes in the Community College
system. I also enjoy working in faith development in my parish and reaching out
to the migrant workers in the area.
It was a challenge to adjust to life in Ahoskie after California. The
loneliness was eased by the warm welcome and support of the St. Charles
Borromeo Parish Community. Gradually, Ahoskie became home to me. In difficult
times over these 50 years I have been sustained by a favorite Scripture
passage: "The favors of the Lord are renewed each morning, so great is
God's faithfulness." Lam. 3:22-23. I believe God loves me
unconditionally and companions me every step of the way.
Sr. Margaret Holleran, M.S.S.C. - 40 Years
The Missionary Sisters of St. Columban - Columban Sisters for short -
were begun in 1921 in Ireland. Our co-founder envisaged a group of
"religious and hardy women who would be ready at a moment's notice to
jump on a horse and ride any distance to a sick call." Our ministries were
especially to be among women, children, the marginalized and the poor.
Although I realized that God was calling me to religious life, I was a
very independent person who didn't particularly care about convent living as I
had known it from the Sisters who taught me in school. Then I met a Columban
Sister who was doing post-graduate work in London. Her simplicity and
prayerfulness touched me deeply.
I have cherished all my ministries in the Church and outside it. They
have led me in different ways into the mystery of life and the heart of God in
each person I have met and served. I have fond memories of many years in Faith
Formation in the Philippines. The poor taught me much about hospitality,
oppression and hope. Today as I minister to our Hispanic community I am
reminded again of the evils of poverty and exploitation. I am inspired by their
deep desire to integrate into a new culture while holding on to what is special
and sacred in their own. I am inspired by their faith in God and love for our
Blessed Mother.
My quest for the God of my life is inspired by my great passion, the man
Jesus, his Message and his Word. No words can express my experiences of God in
people, especially the poor, and in the daily events of my life.
Sr. Joanna Walsh, F.C.J. - 40 Years
My community, the Faithful Companions of Jesus, was founded in 1820 by
Marie Madeleine d'Houet, under the direction of Jesuits in France. She
wanted women with the courage of those early women disciples who were faithful
companions of Jesus right to the foot of the Cross. She began working with
orphans, as well as opening schools for girls and providing formation for young
women working in factories. Today we are in 15 countries; our newest foundation
is in Mexico.
I was taught by the FCJs in both elementary and high school in Rhode
Island. My aunt and my two older sisters were members of the community. Their
life of prayer attracted me; also, I wanted to be a teacher. There was a
mystery about religious life which drew me. I loved going to Mass, and I wanted
to grow closer to God.
Living in North Carolina has taught me much about ecumenical and
interfaith collegiality. Campus ministry let me apply what I had learned as a
pastoral assistant to young adults who were making big decisions about their
futures. Spiritual direction is now a major focus of my ministry. It allows me
to offer hospitality to another person, to use my gifts of listening with
compassion and helping the other person to look at his/her life experiences
from another perspective. To hear people's stories, to walk with them as
they strive to discern God's guidance in the complexity of their lives -
this is a sacred trust. Time spent this way with another person deepens and
challenges my own faith.