2008 Jubilarians

Rose Andre Beck, SSND
Professed in 1958

Sister Mary Rose Andre Beck celebrates 50 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. She has ministered as a teacher, administrator and pastoral minister.

A meaningful time in my ministry…
It was the late 1960s to early 1970s, a time of “experimentation” in religious life especially in prayer, community living and cooking. (We had no “home” sister.) We were a motley crew of about fifteen Sisters ages ranging from twenty to seventy years. We were all in this together – open to, appreciating, supporting each person’s efforts in prayer whether creative of traditional; cooking whether meals flopped or succeeded, community living; reaching out to the larger community of Port Washington, recycling, gardening, visiting the sick, needy, etc. It was a wonderful time of blossoming!

What drew you to the SSND Community?
I always wanted to be a Sister since I entered grade school at Holy Angels in West Bend, WI and was taught by the SSNDs. During these years, I played a lot “being a Sister.” and entered the SSND Aspiranture at Prairie du Chien after eighth grade. Looking back, I think it was the joy, love fun, dedication of the Sisters that drew me to SSND.

What has it meant to you to be a sister through the years?
Being an SSND has meant: to belong, to have a home anywhere, to be called to grow personally and spiritually. To be called to adventures I would never have dreamed possible especially other cultures such as Eskimo, Navjo and Athabascan.

What would you like people to know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame?
SSND is a religious community dedicated to making the world one especially through education. SSND is “with it,” seeking to be prophetic for our time and following the Spirit.

What words of encouragement would you offer to a woman exploring the possibility of religious life?
Go for it! Everything is in a state of change, flux: culture, religion, religious life. Be a part of the transformation — transforming religious life, the church, our world to a new higher consciousness.

What is your current ministry?
I work with part-time meal preparation service “spicing up” the lives of our senior Sisters at Mount Calvary Retirement Community. I also help out in the SUNSEED Eco–Education Center at Mount Calvary.

 

 

 

 

 

      Sister Rose Andre with twin, Sister Mary

Sister's missions:
Christ King, Wauwatosa, WI, 1960-1965
Holy Childhood, Harbor Springs, MI, 1965-1971
St Malachy, Horicon, WI, 1971
St Mary, Port Washington, WI, 1971-1977
St Ignatius, Alakanuk, AK, 1977-1983
Sacred Heart, Chevak, AK, 1984-1992
Blessed Sacrament, Scammon Bay, AK, 1991-1992
Sacred Heart, Chevak, AK, 1992-1994
Blessed Sacrament, Scammon Bay, AK, 1992-1994
St Mary of the Rosary Mission, Pinon, AZ, 1995-2001
St Teresa Church, Kaltag, AK, 2001-2002
Our Lady of the Snows, Nulato, AK, 2001-2002
St Patrick Church, Koyukuk, AK, 2002-2006
St Teresa Church, Kaltag, AK, 2002-2006
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mount Calvary, WI, 2006-Present