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 Sr.
Mary Lois Schmeltzer, OP
Diamond Jubilarian
60 years (August 14, 1946)
Sr. Mary Lois Schmeltzer cherishes the Dominican value of study. "I would love to be a perpetual student," she shares, and in many ways, she always has been. As she celebrates 60 years of religious life, she reflects that she has loved and learned much from all the ministries she has had.
A native of Somerset, Ohio, and a member of Holy Trinity parish, Sr. Mary Lois knew Dominican priests and sisters throughout her youth. They instilled in her a strong faith, a sound knowledge of theology, a stalwart work ethic, and a passion for study and education. Entering the congregation was an unlabored decision for Sr. Mary Lois, and becoming a teacher soon after was a natural step. For almost twenty years, she taught mostly the first and second grade throughout Ohio and in Pennsylvania. She earned a Masters degree in education and went on to become principal at Holy Rosary School (Steubenville, OH), St. Mark School (Brooklyn, NY), and St. Andrew Avellino School (Flushing, NY).
In 1977, Sr. Mary Lois returned to Columbus to serve the Congregation first as Vocation Director and later as Director of Public Relations and Development. From 1986 through 1995 she ministered at St. Mary Parish (Marietta, OH) as Director of Religious Education and in 1995, she assumed the role of Administrator at Nazareth Towers (Columbus, OH) in ministry to the elderly residents there. Officially "retiring" in 2003 has enabled Sr. Mary Lois to take on the coordination of several new projects for the Congregation on a volunteer basis, and she has remained as active as ever.
Throughout all her ministries, Sr. Mary Lois has continued to see every day as a day to learn something new. Even in her retirement years, she continues to study theology and philosophy (two of her favorite subjects) when she can, and regularly reads various periodicals to keep abreast of current happenings in the world and in the Church. Of particular interest to Sr. Mary Lois is ongoing study of the social justice issues articulated in the Congregation's Corporate Stances, which she values as part of the prophetic preaching of St. Mary of the Springs. She humbly proclaims that she will continue to study and to serve as long as the Good Lord enables her to.
"Over the years, whenever I've been asked which has been my favorite ministry, I have always responded with the present one – I was always doing my favorite ministry at that moment, in each new place I ventured," shares Sr. Mary Lois. "And I can honestly say that again about where I am right now – living at the motherhouse with so many generous, prayerful Sisters in an atmosphere of kindess, compassion, and love makes me realize how grateful I am to be a member of two wondeful families: a loving biological family and an outstanding religious congregation." |
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