Sister Bernadette Marie celebrates 60 years of religious profession in 2020.
After a dozen years teaching elementary school children, Sister Bernadette Marie made the switch to library science, and to decades of service in the three high schools owned by the community: Marian Catholic, Sacred Heart-Griffin, and Rosary.
Her dry wit and insatiable curiosity made this a perfect ministry of support for students who relied on her for research and writing assistance—and a good joke.
Rosary students missed her so much after she left them in 2017 to become the librarian at Sacred Heart Convent that they asked her to reprise the stand-up comedy routine she used to perform at school assemblies.
Interested in Hearing More from Sister Bernadette?
Tune in to her episode of F.L.O.W.cast Listen, a podcast for the life of the world.
Sister Bernadette Marie was born in Springfield, Ill., and baptized Ona Marie at St. Patrick Church. She is one of five children born to Thomas and Marie McGuire. Her sister, Sister Rosemary McGuire, is also a Springfield Dominican. Both reside at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield, Ill. Their sister Patricia Carrothers lives in Kingston, Ida. A brother Daniel lives in Decatur, Ill., and a brother John in Phoenix, Az.
Sister Bernadette Marie’s Ministry Assignments
1960-1966 St Edward, Chicago, Grade 1
1966-1970 St Paul, Odell, Ill., Grades 1-2
1970-1972 Our Saviour, Jacksonville, Ill., Grades 5 & 7
1972-1983 Rout High School, Jacksonville, Ill., Library, English, religion
1983-1985 Marian Catholic, Chicago Heights, Ill., English, religion, library
1988-1993 Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield, Ill. , Library
1993-2017 Rosary High, Aurora, Ill., Library
2017-present Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill, Library
Congratulations on 60 years of refining your dry wit and increasing your curiosity. You were a great mentor. It was a pleasure to be part of your library staff.
Sincerely,
Judy Casper
I was thinking today of the many teachers I had in my younger years – and the name Sister Bernadette Marie always represented the gold standard for me. Being a typical rambunctious boy from a large family in the 60’s, I found myself in the middle much mischief of my own making. But my 1st grade teacher in 1965 at St. Edwards, Sister Bernadette Marie, left a lasting mark on me with her aura of grace, love, gentleness, and positive energy. Her spirit gave me both hope and confidence that is hard to describe, but for which I am still appreciative and grateful for 56 years later!
I’ve been fortunate to have had many great ‘influencers’ and Sister Bernadette Marie was my first, and in looking back certainly a cornerstone block of my life.
Thank you Sister Bernadette Marie, you were/are awesome!!.
Greg Lenski
Thanks, Greg, for sharing your touching remembrances! You are correct, Sister Bernadette Marie is still awesome!