I always knew I would write a blog post about how influential nuns were to my education and the person I have become. And then last week, I saw on facebook, my elementary school principal, Sister Mary de Lourdes, died at the age of 90. Sister Mary de Lordes was the founding principal of St. Edward the Confessor School in Metairie, LA where I attended K-8th grades. She served as principal for 45 years. We lived three blocks from the school, and this was also our home church parish. My parents still live in that same house on Garden St. and go to church there. Nine of my earliest years were spent with mostly the same group of students, and facebook has re-connected many of us in the last 5 years or so. She and Sister Julia (my 1st, 5th, and 6th grade teacher) even came to our wedding. The pictures here are from the second line parade from St. Louis Cathedral to the Omni Royal Orleans. As you can see, she had a lovely time, and we were so honored to have that memory. I remember attending several friend’s weddings after turning 21 18 and serving both drinks. (Mind blown, the nuns of my childhood love to have a good time.)

I didn’t realize how shocked and saddened I would be to know that she is no longer with us physically. (I can assure you she is with us in spirit). My earliest memory with Sister Mary de Lourdes was being sent to the her office while in kindergarten. I must confess (of course) I don’t remember what I was sent for, but I can imagine one of two options: I had caused some sort of disruption in the classroom and annoyed the teacher–or I was being loud and wouldn’t stop talking while the teacher was trying to do something. Either way, I do remember being terrified the first several times. I tried to explain what had happened, and in a manner that would become familiar over 9 years, she let me voice what I thought were injustices and unfairness about why I was sent to her, and then asked if I was finished. When I answered yes, she proceeded to explain her expectations for my behavior in a very calm and firm (there’s not a word for her tone and style) manner, explained that she did not plan to see me again in her office, and sent me on my way with the belief that I could be successful. Suffice it to say, we probably had conversations on a more regular basis than she wanted or anticipated; however, some years were better than others. Lucky for me, she was patient, but she was also strong even at a small stature even when she started aging. (Truth be told; most of us thought she was immortal anyway.)  In some ways, she is immortal given the number of students who graduated from St. Edward during her tenure as principal. Her legacy continues in all who knew her and in generations to come.

I never wanted to be a nun, but I was always, always inspired (and still am) by the sacrifices they made/make to help educate children, visit the sick, help the poor and homeless, speak out against social injustices, and model a prayerful, reflective life. They are committed to the community they live and were certainly some of my early teachers of social justice. But for them and others I’ll write about in subsequent posts, they live(d) and model(d) the values they espouse. I think this could be the major difference between many of the priests, bishops, and past popes. (Our new pope is a bit better on focusing on things that matter, IMO.) They are much more interested in telling us what we should and shouldn’t be doing and spending time on judging others rather than doing the important work involved with social justice, which always involves some type of action.

I was also taught that when you are in a situation to speak or act on behalf of others because of your own position, you do it. You act, and you try to make the world a better place for all, not just those that believe the same that you do and not just to save their souls or help them find God. You act because you are called, and it might benefit someone other than yourself, and that will get paid forward for others. And you work towards social justice for all.

RIP Sister Mary de Lordes.