Sister Mary Lee Pitre, OP

80th Jubilee Reflection

God gave the heart a voice to sound its joy and called it Music.

I was born in Essexville, Michigan in 1927, and from the very beginning, my parents wove faith deeply into my life. My baptism, along with a solid Catholic upbringing at home and at St. John’s School, shaped the foundation of who I became.

Some of my earliest memories are of my mother singing with my sisters and me as we traveled from place to place in our car. Music was simply part of the air we breathed. In 1939, Sister Leone arrived in Essexville and gathered together a group of students who loved to sing. She often welcomed us on Saturday afternoons to listen to opera—an extraordinary gift for young ears. By the time Sister Arlene came in 1942, we were well prepared to sing for Sunday Mass. Since our parish lacked space for larger events, we often sang at the public school for special occasions. Those experiences opened my heart to the power of music and community.

During my junior year of high school, a few friends and I made our BIG TRIP—a trip to Grand Rapids to attend Sister Villana’s Reception of the Habit. I found it beautiful, though at the time it held no deep meaning for me. But the following year, attending her Profession of Vows stirred something within me. For the first time, I felt the invitation to consider religious life. That moment marked the beginning of a lifelong calling centered on education, parish ministry, and service since September of 1945.

By the time I arrived at Marywood in 1945, my love of music was already deeply rooted. Beginning in 1948, whenever a parish needed an organist, I considered it a privilege to play for daily Mass. Working with young people who loved to sing, and adults eager to be part of a choir, filled my days with joy. Music became not just something I did, but a vital part of my being. I have always believed that the music of the next world will be truly Heavenly.

In later years, with more freedom in my schedule, I felt called to volunteer with Meals on Wheels and to help prepare and serve meals at God’s Kitchen. These ministries opened my eyes and heart in new ways. I encountered many individuals who came day after day—each with their own struggles, hopes, and stories. And as I delivered meals from door to door or met people on their front porches, I often carried their stories with me in prayer. These experiences broadened my awareness of how much quiet need exists in our communities. I continue to pray for those in need even today.

My life has been filled with countless blessings and wonderful friends across the years. The prayerful support of my community, my relatives, and my friends has carried me through more than seven decades of service. For all of this, I offer my grateful thanks—to God, and to each person whose love, kindness, and encouragement have accompanied me on this journey.