April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
75 YEARS OF SERVICE
How one sister kept her promise
Seventy-five years ago, Frances Henrietta Elizabeth Dammann, then a teenager, promised to serve God as a Sister of Mercy.
Now 93, Sister Mary Alma has kept that promise as a teacher for her entire career in various Catholic grade and high schools around the Albany Diocese.
Now retired and living at Villa Mary Immaculate in Albany, she remains active, brightening the days of the residents and healthcare workers with a listening ear, a skill she honed as a teacher.
That was then
"Long ago, when I first began my teaching career, I was sent to Catholic High," in Troy, Sister Mary Alma began. "A very old sister, Sister Mary Martha, who taught Latin at the high school, told me that what was needed in this world were more listeners, people who could take the time to listen to what others had to say. That was in 1931. I took her advice seriously and have never forgotten it."
She taught various courses at Catholic Central, including bookkeeping, which she knew nothing about. She had to read the textbook before she taught the course. She also taught history at Vincentian Institute in Albany and science at St. John's Academy in Rensselaer, where she eventually was assigned to teach fourth grade. She remained at that level for the rest of her career.
"It was my favorite grade to teach," she recalled.
This is now
At Villa Mary, Sister Mary Alma visits other residents and prays with several other Mercy sisters who reside there.
Aggie Stillman, a Mercy Associate who visits several times a week, said that there was a period of adjustment for the sisters when they were moved from a separate wing to live among the lay residents.
"They lost a level of privacy in the move," she said. "They were used to living only with other sisters for most of their lives. But Sister Mary Alma has helped them in the adjustment. She's been a great minister of peace to them."
Reflections
Thinking back on three-quarters of a century as a nun, Sister Mary Alma said, "I hope that, over the years, I have learned patience.
"I entered the Sisters of Mercy because I felt that God wanted me to become a sister. The Mercy Sisters taught me from fourth grade right up through high school. I never thought of joining any other order. I've been very happy as a Sister of Mercy.
"Throughout the years, I have tried to follow the charism of the Mercies and Mother Catherine McAuley [founder of the order]. I hope I have done that."
(1/15/04)
[[In-content Ad]]MORE NEWS STORIES
- Inspired by millennial soon-to-be-saint, Irish teens create animated Lego-Carlo Acutis film
- Anxiety, uncertainty follow Trump travel ban
- Supreme Court rules in favor of Wisconsin Catholic agency over religious exemption
- Analysts: Trump’s action on Harvard, Columbia could have implications for religious groups
- Commission tells pope universal safeguarding guidelines almost ready
- Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity, speakers say
- Vatican office must be place of faith, charity, not ambition, pope says
- Pope Leo XIV names Uganda-born priest as bishop of Houma-Thibodaux
- Report: Immigration data ‘much lower’ than Trump administration claims
- Religious freedom in Russia continues to decline, say experts
Comments:
You must login to comment.