“Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy.”

I am truly grateful to God, family – Dominican Family – relatives and friends for their love, support and care all these blessed years. May God continue to bless us all in a special way.

On February 7, 1933, I was born to Nicodemus and Wilhelmina Rajewski in Bay City, Michigan. I wanted to attend public high school, but my father’s word prevailed and, much against Lorraine’s protestations, I entered ninth grade at St. John in Essexville. Three months later, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the strong influence of Sister Cecile, I decided to become a Sister. I came to Marywood as a Postulant, receiving the name Sister Mary Wilma of the Blessed Sacrament, then returned to my baptismal name in 1990.

I received a BS from Aquinas College, pursued further studies at Xavier University; and in 1979 I became a licensed Workshop Way Consultant, giving workshops to teachers in Alaska, California, New Mexico, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. I taught early elementary education in Michigan, Florida, and New Mexico.

During a one-year sabbatical at Blessing Place in Lacombe, Louisiana I began doing artwork and discovered I was artistically creative. Using watercolors, I used blending techniques and allowed the colors to choose me. My hobbies include card making, gardening, and baking. Working in a garden helps me to experience the ever presence of God working in our lives. When I create cards, I pray for the person who buys as well as the person who receives the card.

Another form of artwork for which Sr. Lorraine is extremely well known around Marywood is for the scent and taste of her home-made potato rolls and cinnamon sticky buns. She bakes these delicious items and offers them to the Sisters for periodic coffee breaks.

Just to be is holy is the grace I am experiencing this time in my life. Because of recognizing this grace as being holy – I am in awe of the blessings of God I have received through family, community, ministry, and friends.

During these 70 years of Dominican vowed life, I have come to know the blessings of love I have given to others and the blessings of love others have given to me. I hear the same with Jesus’ heart “I am a beloved of God”.