I, the Lord, teach you what is good,and lead you on the way you should go. - Isaiah 48:17
The second child of John and Theresa Kusba, Dolores Therese Mary was born June 11, 1928. She had two brothers, one older and one younger. She learned self-defense by joining the boys’ sports.
Dolores attended grade school at St. Rita, Saginaw and St. Joseph High School. Her teachers were Grand Rapids Dominicans. Recognizing that God was calling her to religious life, Dolores entered the congregation in September of 1947. She received the name Sister John Therese of the Blessed Sacrament.
Sister John Therese Kusba ministered with Dominican Volunteers USA in 2003. Through this program, lay men and women to volunteer for a 10-12 month in mission while living in intentional Dominican community. With Sisters, these volunteers serve those who are poor and marginalized. They learn to live out the Dominican mission of proclaiming the gospel through ministry, common life, prayer and study within a diverse, intergenerational community.
Her 26 years in New Mexico began at St. Francis in Ranchos de Taos and continued at Alameda, Santa Cruz and Our Lady of Fatima in Albuquerque. She loved the mountains and the people and life in New Mexico.
At the time of her Silver Jubilee she wrote: “In my Dominican vocation I find great sense of community in sharing our lives, in being open to the world, in celebrating the goodness of God’s creation.”
Sr. John Therese earned a B.S. and M.A. in Religious Education from Aquinas College and continued her summer studies at Duluth and Notre Dame.
Her hobbies include reading, crossword puzzles, sports and traveling. Upper Peninsula and Washington, D.C. were favorite vacation sites.
In 2001 Sr. John Therese became a resident at Aquinata Hall where she had energy for several volunteer ministries. Today her home is at Marywood Health Center where she receives love and care.
Gracious hospitality is a Dominican value and Sister John Therese Kusba enjoyed baking with the Marywood Health Center Occupational and Recreational Therapists, then serving cookies to patients and visitors.