“Those who work for justice will see the face of God.”
~ Psalm 11
My earliest thoughts of a religious vocation came during my third year at St. Michael’s College University of Toronto, as a member of a Catholic action group entitled “Young Christian Students.” At one of the regular meetings, Fr. Dore, CSB, our chaplain posed this question: “You are all young Christian students, so what contribution will you make to the life of the Church?” He asked us to consider the question seriously. Reflecting on the question, I knew I enjoyed studying and learning and thought I might be a teacher. Could it be to a religious congregation whose ministry was studying and teaching?
Fr. Dore encouraged me to speak with Dominican Sister Jane Marie Murray OP. During several conversations, Sister spoke of the significant role of prayer and liturgy in religious life, of study in preparation for ministry, and the value of community life. Subsequently, with prayer, faith, courage and the blessing of my parents, I applied to the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
My ministry, over the years, has been in education. I enjoyed my years teaching Philosophy at Aquinas College. Students were interested and eager to wrestle with philosophical principles, concepts, and outcomes that followed.
I left teaching for a period and accepted the responsibility and honor of serving two terms as Prioress of the Congregation. To see our Sisters ministering in so many areas of great need was both a grace and blessing for me. Later, I returned to teaching as a member of the Philosophy, Department of Providence College,
Providence, Rhode Island.
