We’ve all heard the stories (some of us have told them) about when a nun hit some innocent across the knuckles with a ruler in a classroom. We’ve heard about Sisters who were stern. Sisters who were mysterious and terrifying. Of course, in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s public school kids were getting thumped by their teachers, too. So, I take those stories with a grain of salt. I’m not condoning abuse. I’m just saying it was not unique to Catholic Schools and some of the stories may have little to do with reality. On the other hand, if I had 45 kids in one classroom…

Many of us grew up with almost cartoonish images of Catholic Sisters. Who doesn’t remember the television show “The Flying Nun”? Sally Fields careening through the skies because her bizarre headgear could make her airborne in order to save the day (in a comedic way, of course). And the movies: “The Singing Nun” about the nun who recorded the chart-topping song “Dominique” as played by Debbie Reynolds (try to get that song out of your head); “Sister Act” gives us a disguised nightclub performer Whoopie Goldberg who saves the church and the community; Mary Tyler Moore in “Change of Habit” was no more believable as a nun than Elvis was as the doctor with whom she was smitten. My personal favorite is Rosalind Russell as the tough but loving Mother Superior in “The Trouble with Angels”. The list goes on…

As charming as some of those shows may have been, they have nothing to do with my reality of Catholic Sisters. I was blessed to be born into a family of Catholic Sisters. My great aunt, three of my aunts, and seven of my Mom’s cousins were Sisters. Most of them were Sisters of the Most Precious Blood of which I am a proud lay member today. As a child, my aunts loved me and will remain in my heart forever. They were women who embraced lives of service to others while being role models to their many nieces and nephews. As a student, the Sisters who taught me, encouraged me to reach beyond my limited capabilities. Sister Fidesta was at times my adversary, but she never gave up on me. She made me do better, when adequate would have been enough for me. I will never forget wild and crazy Sister Thecla who inspired my love of drafting and architecture which enabled me in my career.

Catholic Sisters Week has been celebrated in March for the last ten years during Women’s History Month. We honor religious Catholic women and remember Catholic sisters that have passed away. Today as a Partner in Mission with the Most Precious Blood Sisters, I have experienced firsthand the love, the service and the dedication of the Sisters. My Sister friends and fellow Partners in Mission continually model compassion, patience, and forgiveness. I’m still a work in progress.

This week while you’re scrolling through countless social media posts about politics or the Oscars or politics at the Oscars, I encourage you to google Catholic Sisters Week. If you are blessed to have a friend or a member of your family or a teacher that is or was a Catholic Sister, thank them and thank God for them.

Peace,

Denis