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 Sr.
Francis Marie Lawler, OP
Diamond Jubilarian
75 years (July 10, 1931)
Sr. Francis Marie Lawlor first knew the Dominican Sisters as a fifth grader at St. Mary of the Springs Academy, where she continued until her high school graduation. She says she always felt the Dominicans were like family, and her entrance into the congregation seemed a natural extension of who she was.
When she first entered the Novitiate, she desired to be closer to God and to serve God's people in whatever capacity God directed. Today that desire remains strong and has been a faithful constant in her 75 years of religious life. And, at age 95, Sr. Francis Marie Lawler, OP, has witnessed a lot of changes both in the world in general and in religious life specifically.
In her early days as a Sister, Sr. Francis Marie dutifully moved from school to school every couple of years, teaching whatever subjects were needed in whatever locations she was needed. Her first minisry assignment was at St. Clare of Montefalco (Detroit, MI), and the years following brought her to Columbus (OH), Newark (OH), Pittsburgh (PA), Wilmerding (PA), New Haven (CT), New York (NY), and Eagle Park (NY). With post-Vatican II winds of change, in 1976, Sr. Francis Marie enjoyed her first longer-term assignment as a high school Spanish teacher at Mary Immaculate School in Eagle Park (Ossining), where she served for eight years. In 1975, she returned to Columbus to teach at Bishop Watterson High School, where she continued to serve – and became somewhat of a Dominican icon – for 18 years before her retirement.
Today, celebrating 75 years as a vowed Dominican, Sr. Francis Marie lives at Mohun Health Care Center, embracing a ministry of prayer. In reflecting on her long life as a religious Sister, she proclaims, "I have tried to live my profession
of love of the Lord.
Everything in my life has centered
around that goal." |
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