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 Sr.
Mary Michael Spangler, OP
Diamond Jubilarian
60 years (August 14, 1946)
"God picks you up and throws you down where you least expect it," laughs Sr. Mary Michael Spangler. This comment has been, in many ways, a theme for her life, which has been filled with unanticipated twists and turns. Celebrating 60 years as a Dominican Sister offered an opportunity for her to reflect on God's many surprises over the years.
Sr. Mary Michael had planned to go to a co-ed college, where she assumed she would meet her future husband. She never wanted to be a teacher – with numerous aunts in the profession, she says she was "sick of teachers." Most of all, she never had given a thought to entering the convent. But, just before her college freshman year began, her plans changed and she went to the College of St. Mary of the Springs. Bored in her home economics classes, she accepted a friend's invitation to attend elementary education classes. And, as her college years progressed, she got to know the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs and developed a great admiration and appreciation for both the Sisters and their life. One day, Sr. Mary Michael had what she calls a "lightning flash" realization during a philosophy class. "I just suddenly knew I should give my life to God," she explains matter-of-factly. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Sixty years of history, to be precise. Her first assignment as a young Sister was a classroom of more than 60 first- and second-graders at St. Mary's in Marietta (OH). "I didn't know anything about discipline, and I hadn't a clue about how to teach anything, let alone reading," she shares. "I was beside myself." But, she learned much from her fellow Dominican teachers, and grew to love teaching.
Then, after nine years in first-grade classrooms, Sr. Mary Michael was assigned to teach at the college level. Once again she felt ill-prepared for the task before her, but her inquiries for assistance led her to a providential encounter with Dominican Fr. Pierre Conway, who would become a lifelong colleague, mentor, and friend. Fr. Conway introduced Sr. Mary Michael to the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, whose philosophy informed the remainder of her academic career and life. She continued as a professor of Education and Philosophy at Ohio Dominican until her retirement in 2001. During her tenure, she was chair of the Education Department for 20 years, served on numerous facuty committees, authored three books, edited three of Fr. Conway's books, was active in several professional associations, and was invited to give presentations to numerous groups, including the US Congress.
Amid the many challenges, surprises, and accomplishments of her life journey, Sr. Mary Michael says the most important thing has been being a Sister. "All these other things are minor," she explains. "Primary has always been giving myself totally to God" – no matter what God has in mind!
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