Loving Relationships By S. Joan Elizabeth Cook
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vid reader, lover of music, that time. After teaching for a few years talented cook, gracious at St. Mel’s, Cleveland; Little Flower, hostess, exacting teacher, Royal Oak, Michigan; and Holy rigorous scholar, dedicated Sister Redeemer, Kensington, Maryland, she of Charity, loving family member: was appointed principal at St. Louis, these are only a few of S. Mary Ann Mt. Clemens, Michigan, before being Donovan’s many characteristics. missioned to study Theology at St. Mary Ann was born in Cincinnati Michael’s College in Toronto. Mary in 1933, the eldest of four children. Ann explained that in missioning Her youngest sister, S. Suzanne, her to study Theology, Mother Mary lives in Dayton; her brother Joseph Omer was convinced that only when (Jerry) died in 2016 and her sister the male students in seminaries were Mary Lou Wood lives in Olean, New taught by women would the position of York. Suzanne says about Mary Ann, S. Mary Ann Donovan celebrated 70 years as a Sister women in the Church begin to change. of Charity of Cincinnati in 2021. “Mary Ann was truly a Big Sister. Mary Ann was grateful to accept this She looked out for us three younger appointment because “as students and siblings, and took good care of us – when she wasn’t reading!” faculty, we are called to model the relationships we should practice in ministry in the Church.” After teaching for a year Among Mary Ann’s favorite childhood memories are at the Mount, she was appointed to the faculty at the Jesuit softball games with the boys who lived at Mount Alverno School of Theology in Berkeley, California, where she served in Delhi; hours spent sitting in her favorite tree, reading a for 35 years. good book; practicing for her cello lessons; and going with her father on his business rounds. She grew up surrounded by Sisters of Charity at St. Lawrence Elementary School and Seton High School in Price Hill. After graduation in 1951 she entered the Community, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Philosophy at the College of Mount St. Joseph-on-the-Ohio, as the Mount was called at
S. Mary Ann Donovan is known for her love of reading, a passion that began at an early age. 14
In addition to teaching in the fields of Church History and Spirituality, Mary Ann was frequently invited to speak to groups of church leaders, scholars, parish groups and others. After she spoke to the men who were imprisoned at San Quentin Prison, she noted that the inmates “model a living understanding of the great work that God’s love can accomplish.” On another occasion, Mary Ann spoke at a Grape Blessing Ceremony at Sterling Vineyards in Napa Valley. The event celebrated the vintage and its bountiful gift to the human spirit. Her topic was Jesus the Vintner at the wedding feast in Cana. She still found time to publish numerous articles and two books: Sisterhood as Power: The Past and Passion of Ecclesial Women in 1989 and One Right Reading? A Guide to Irenaeus, for which she received the 1998 book award from the College Theology Society. Wherever she is, Mary Ann always enjoys welcoming other Sisters of Charity, family and friends. S. Noreen Ellison remembers visiting Mary Ann in both Toronto and Berkeley. She comments about her time on sabbatical in Berkeley, “I met a few Jesuit scholastics and they told me what a great teacher she was.” Several Sisters tell delightful stories of studying at JSTB, enjoying prayer, home-cooked meals, and sightseeing adventures with Mary Ann and other SCs there. Favorite spots to visit were Muir Woods, vineyards I n t e rc o m
