Sister Mary Ann Barrett

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” ~ Isaiah 52:7

Jubilarian 2023 – 60 Years a Sister

I embark on my 60th Jubilee celebration with Great Thanksgiving. It is my family, my Community members, my friends – even students and strangers – who have been “sent” into my life to deepen in me a love of God and the Word of God. Happily, I listened to most of their wisdom and heard God’s call to contribute my unique gifts to the Dominican Family, living the Motto: To Praise, To Bless, and To Preach Jesus Christ.

Since 2nd grade at St. Bernard’s in Alpena, I wanted to be a Sister, sometimes secretly, sometimes openly. My Irish father had no chance for a “priest,” not with 4 girls, and I felt I was the most “promising” to become a Sister. At an early age I played at being a teacher and entered into classroom teaching upon graduation from Aquinas College in ’66. Teaching prepared me for vocation ministry and campus ministry and retreat ministry, for parish ministry and then a call to leadership in the congregation. Today, I serve as alumnae engagement officer at Aquinas College.

“The Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” ~ Romans 10:5

God has used me as an instrument of Faith through my ministries as a Teacher, a Campus Minister, a Vocation Director, a Retreat director, a Congregational Leader, and a friend.

Spurred on by others’ invitations over the past 8 years, I’ve taken to writing Reflections, Poems, and Blessings for different occasions. I try to capture what’s weighing on my heart and transpiring in the world and then write.

I strive to live the Word faithfully within community life: “Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17. My mother taught me much about hospitality to widows.

I feel blessed to be living in this challenging time of Environmental consciousness, Justice probing, Reparation-seeking and Global interdependence. I applaud Pope Francis’ Leadership in calling
all of us to Spiritual renewal where conversion of heart and lifestyle are essential; where the wonder and awe of God’s Presence in Creation leads us to reverence all life.

“Bless God, my soul, and all that is in me; remember all God’s kindnesses.” ~ Psalm 103:1-2