Celebrating 50 Years as a Redemptoristine Nun
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November 8, 2021r. Ann Marie Gool celebrated her 50th jubilee of profession to the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptoristines) at St. Clement’s chapel in Liguori. Fr. Bernie Carlin presided at a joyful celebration of her contemplative vocation on October 16, the Feast of St. Gerard Majella.
Sr. Ann Marie was born in Erie, PA and christened Shirley Ann at St. Stanislaus Parish. After completing high school, she went to college part time and spent a year doing lay missionary work in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV before following the call to a contemplative religious life. She entered the Redemptoristine monastery on October 28, 1968 and made her first profession of vows as Sr. Ann Marie of the Holy Spirit on October 16, 1971. I felt called to the contemplative life as I felt that any other ministry was too limited, whereas prayer has no limits,” she said. “Our charism is a joyful contemplative response of the plentiful and merciful love of Jesus, the Redeemer.”
Sr. Ann Marie has served the Liguori community as Prioress, formator, secretary and bursar since 1971. She was missioned to the new foundation in South Africa in 1996 and served there until 2011. “I count the 15 years on mission in South Africa as one the greatest blessings: to be among people who lived both poverty of spirit and material poverty has been a great lesson for me in following Christ,” she said.
Sr. Ann Marie believes that jubilees offer an opportunity to remember and thank some of the special people God has placed in our lives. She shared a special tribute to Sr. Mary Margaret Miller, her Novice Mistress: Sr. Mary Margaret grew up with her four brothers – Ray, Don Ernie and Louis – on the famous Page Street in Grand Rapids. Her brothers became Redemptorist priests: Fr. Ray was stationed in Rome for a while and led retreats and did parish work when he returned to the States. Fr. Don is best known as the Founder of Liguori.
His was the vision that the Province backed to have a special place dedicated to St. Alphonsus’ Apostolate of the Pen. Fr. Ernie was a military chaplain and a missionary preacher in the States and overseas. Fr. Louis, the youngest of the family, used his gifts from the Lord as a military chaplain, was deeply involved in Liguori Publications and became a mentor to many of the new Redemptorist vocations.
Mary took over the household after her mother died and cared for her father. After he died, she discerned a call to the Redemptoristines. She was in her late 40s at the time and was considered a late vocation, but God had designs on her. She joined the Nuns in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, the English-speaking house in North America founded by Chudleigh, England, in 1947.
In 1960, Sr. Mary Margaret of Nazareth was chosen as one of the eight foundresses to come to Liguori to pray for the success of Liguori Publications and the Redemptorists of the Province. She gave herself wholeheartedly to the foundation. As vicar, she shared many of the decision-making aspects of the new foundation. Being close to Fr. Don and her other brothers was an added blessing, although she did not see them that often. She would regale the Community with funny stories about their childhood during recreation.
The Lord had prepared her well for her new tasks. Before she entered the monastery, she had taken piano lessons. When the Community was in need of an organist, she learned how to play the organ for the Divine Liturgy. In fact, she was so gifted that she was able to transpose the Divine Office from Latin to English so that the words and music flowed.
She had worked as a secretary to the president of a bank after high school. She rose through the ranks and was the first woman appointed to serve as vice president. She brought all that experience with her to the monastery. After I was temporarily professed, she trained me in the bursar's work, which has been such a good foundation through the 50 years I have served the Community as secretary and bursar.
The love and commitment she had to the Community are something I will always remember ,and hope to grow in. No matter what she was called to do, she did it with love and devotion. Each Sister had a special place in her heart and in her prayers. Being a late vocation, she never thought she would live to celebrate a jubilee. But she sure did, as she lived to the age of 102! I was missioned in South Africa and not able to attend her funeral, so I say a special prayer of thanks for her, and pray that when my day comes to meet the Lord He will say, “Well done, my faithful servant.”
(from the DenverLink.)
