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| Enjoying friends |
Sister Mary Ann Sullivan of
Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, died on May 13, at 6:00 PM at the
Abbey.
Sr. Mary Ann Sullivan was born on July 20, 1937 in Washington,
DC, the eldest of nine children born to Edward and Marian Sullivan. She entered
the Cistercian monastery of Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts, on
September 14, 1957 and made her solemn profession on October 13, 1962. Two
years later, Sr. Mary Ann was sent with 12 other sisters to found a new
monastery, Our Lady of the Mississippi, in Dubuque, Iowa on October 18, 1964.
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| Writing icons |
This icon of the Annunciation reflects the beauty and
giftedness of our Sr. Mary Ann. It is the icon she wrote in memory of her
beloved deceased sister, Nancy. Of all the art forms Sr. Mary Ann used in
service of the community-- silk screening Christmas cards, water color
painting, pastel sketching, calligraphy--iconography was the artistic
expression dearest to her heart.
Of all the art forms Sr. Mary Ann used in
service of the community-- silk screening Christmas cards, water color
painting, pastel sketching, calligraphy--iconography was the artistic
expression dearest to her heart.
A person of keen intellect and an avid reader, Sr. Mary Ann
shared her love for our Cistercian Fathers and Mothers by teaching our sisters
in formation and by choosing readings for community liturgy for decades. Sr.
Mary Ann remembered what she read! When any of us wanted to trace a quote from
one of the early Church or Cistercian writers, we would go to Mary Ann.
Sr. Mary Ann had great love for Pope Francis. She read his
book of homilies slowly during her last Lent and asked for that book to with
her even when she could no longer read.
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| Faithful to the divine office |
Through the years, as community artist, directress of junior
studies, cellerar, sacristan, vegetable gardener, and well-remembered portress in
our gift shop, the center of Sr. Mary Ann’s life was prayer. If she promised to
pray for you, you could be sure that you would have a place on her daily prayer
list.
Sr. Mary Ann will be remembered for her deep love of God,
her unfaltering faithfulness to monastic life, her humility, obedience and
gentle, caring love for others. She could tease with a twinkle in her eye!
There will be a wake service
in conjunction with Compline for Sister Mary Ann on Monday, May 15, at 7:15 PM,
and the funeral will be in the Abbey Church on
Tuesday, May 16, at 10:00 AM.
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| Enjoying the grounds |
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| With her flower garden |
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| Learning photography |
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