“Never be afraid to go where God leads you.”
On hearing those words, I felt strength and support from God, and I have never regretted my choice!
I was born in 1945 at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington, and baptized at St. Patrick’s Parish where I received all my sacraments, professed my final vows and celebrated my silver jubilee.
My first inspiration to enter the Sisters came from my fifth-grade teacher, Sr. Mary Aquinata (O’Neill), SP, when she told our class about the new program of Sister formation in Issaquah, Washington. My lifelong dream was to be a teacher so I entered the community in 1964.
My first ministry was teaching grade school at St. Francis Xavier School in Missoula, Montana. Near the end of the second year, I volunteered to be one of the two Sisters to coordinate religious education in Idaho for hundreds of families in 12 geographically vast parishes.
Born a farm girl, I have always cared about small towns. Rural ministry enabled me to become more human, to care more about others and to be more aware of the needs of families.
My favorite ministry has always been to those who have left the Church, since I have relatives who have done so. The work in religious education put me in contact with people in that situation. Later on, in parish ministry at St. Mary’s in the Spokane Valley for eight years, I had many opportunities to encourage people to return to the Church and sometimes helped with the process of annulments.
My many ministries have included serving as a member of the Sisters’ Senate in Idaho and in Spokane and being president in both states; being one of two vicars for religious in Idaho; coordinating the Neighborhood Parish Program for small groups at St. Mary’s Parish in Spokane Valley and coordinating the RCIA program there and visiting the homes of many families.
I’ve also served for 12 years as provincial secretary for the former St. Ignatius Province, as well as on the boards of four Providence hospitals.
On March 20, 2000 (the feast of St. Joseph that year), I moved to Walla Walla to live with my mother, Agnes Mason, back on the family farm. I worked at Assumption Parish doing home visiting for three years and also began writing the chronicles for Providence Services (now Providence Health Care) for facilities in eastern Washington and Montana.
The Sisters enrich me because they made me more aware of other apostolates and helped complete my vision of Church. And they really are interested in me and my work. Providence of God, I thank you for all!