“Trust that God is always with you.”
Sister Theresa Connolly
Sister Theresa Connolly was born in Superior, Wisconsin, the youngest of four children. Her father was a switchman on the Great Northern Railroad, and her mother was a homemaker. Sister Theresa remembers her neighborhood being a big part of her life growing up. “Our family loved people! We had marvelous neighbors! The neighborhood children were always together playing. And even though we lived in town, we played with animals, too. One neighbor had a duck; I loved the duck! Another had a dog and still another a bunny.”
The Connollys were a very religious family. Sister Theresa’s mother grew up as a Methodist, but converted to Catholicism after she married. The neighborhood families were also of mixed religions. But that difference in religion never caused a problem. “We were a very ecumenical family, open to other religions. Even today, many of my extended family have married people of other religions.”
By third grade, Sister Theresa knew she wanted to be a sister. “I was in a play where I was cast as a sister. It sounds funny, but that role actually planted a seed in me.” By eighth grade, she asked her parents if she could go to the convent for high school. They said, “Absolutely not! Not until after high school graduation if you still have that desire.” “It was the smartest thing they ever did for me!” She also knew early on that she wanted to work with children when she grew up. Both brothers had large families, so she had lots of experience babysitting for them.
After high school graduation, she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Her cousin had entered a number of years before. But Sister Theresa found it difficult to adjust to the strict rules and regimentation of religious life at that time. “I’ve always been sassy and free, so I struggled with the authority. I couldn’t even talk to my cousin.” After a bit of reflection, she said, “But, you know, you always have the right people at the right time when you need them. My classmates and my family supported me, with lots of tears and lots of laughs. And I do have a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and determination. So, I made it through.”
After training in religious life, Sister Theresa was assigned to be a primary grade teacher. She did that ministry for twenty years in various Catholic schools in Iowa and Wisconsin. “I loved the children! I was meant to be with them.”
Then a religious superior urged Sister Theresa to go into faith formation (religious education) because she was very creative, and would do well with both children and adults. She agreed, but the early years in that new ministry were difficult. She was often too creative for some pastors who preferred “a by-the-book approach.” But eventually, she was assigned to places where she was able to do religious education from pre-school through high school, and work with both parents and children in sacramental preparation. Her next parish had a fun pastor who encouraged and supported her in her expertise and creativity. “I really enjoyed it! It brought a lot of life to me.”
After twenty years in that ministry, Sister Theresa knew she was heading toward retirement, so she asked the community if she could volunteer at Villa St. Joseph, the FSPA care center for retired sisters. She ended up serving there for seventeen years. “I loved it!! That’s when my life really blossomed.” She assisted the sister administrators wherever she could. Among other things, she also fed sisters three meals a day, assisted at liturgy, led singing and played the piano for dementia patients, and brought candy around to the sister residents. Sometimes she helped clean the hermitages and worked in the Villa garden, picking rocks and pulling weeds. She would bring ice cream down to the garden workers to thank them for their hard work.
After such an energetic life, the transition to retirement at St. Rose Convent has been very hard on Sister Theresa. “At first, I wasn’t happy at all! I wanted to be part of all that was going on, but I often don’t feel well enough. Also, I can’t sing or ride my bike anymore.” When asked how she handled the grief, she said, “Prayer helps a lot, just knowing that God is always with us. I learned that from my mother. She always talked to Jesus, and I would hear her.”
“I also tell myself that I have transitioned many times before in my life, moving to different places. I know that it was part of our life as Franciscans. Part of my transitioning now is doing what children often do – coloring. I often spend four hours a day coloring. It helps to center me. I also love taking Adoration hours, giving candy to cheer sisters and staff, and decorating sisters’ doors with my colored pictures. I appreciate all the help our staff provides us. I love the quiet here.”
Sister Theresa sums up the wisdom she offers to others this way: one day at a time helps; trust that God is always with you; keep the faith; be kind; meet people where they are at; laugh a lot; keep interested in life around you. “We are truly blessed!”
About Wells of Wisdom
Communities of Catholic Sisters realize what a wealth of wisdom there is among us; it is too rich to be ignored. So in “Wells of Wisdom," author Sister Karen Lueck features a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration in her golden years who is willing to share some of her wisdom with a world desperately in need of it.
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