A child of immigrants, Letitia was raised among Dominican relatives, and took what must have seemed a natural place among the sisters at Springfield Kentucky, where she became Sister Mary Thomas. With a reputation as one of the finest teachers in the congregation, she was teaching in Louisville when she was called to take the place of a sister who had fallen ill at the mission in faraway Jacksonville, Illinois. This earned her a place among the founders of the new congregation. Sister M. Thomas often responded to calls for assistance. Once, that meant spending five years away from her Dominican community to assist a German-speaking immigrant congregation with their school for English-speaking children. In her later years, Sister Mary Thomas found joy in the labor of gardening on the motherhouse grounds.
Sister Mary Thomas’ commitment to education lives on in the Dominican Sisters of Springfield Illinois. Does it live in you?
As it did for Sister Mary Thomas, teaching has given me opportunities to serve students of varying ages in a number of different locales and cultures. How many are the lessons I have taken (and continue to take) from each experience!
A lively, loving classroom is a thrilling place. I love every aspect of the curriculum: from music and art, to math and science, to language and humanities. Helping students grapple with new ideas and make discoveries about the world and about themselves is exciting. For me, the intellectual and personal growth resulting from a solid education embodies St. Irenaeus' words: "The glory of God is a person fully alive."
I think about the hope that Sister Mary Thomas' ministry offered to the German immigrant children and their families. That same hope is offered today by Dominican Sisters of Springfield who serve as educators in schools, parishes, and literacy centers. The commitment to education lives on!
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